Oberlin College

In conclusion, the debate between W.E.B Dubois and Washington was nothing short of remarkable and genius. Although both men had two separate ways about doing things they both shared the same common goal, which was bettering the lives of African Americans. In my opinion, W.E.B Dubois plan to go strongly for African American rights and equality was the better strategy. Not only did he help bring us together but he gave blacks a sense of self confidence that they didn’t possess before. For once blacks believed not only can you be as good as the white man but better. While some may agree that Mr. Washington’s plan to endure the second citizenship title was only degrading and keeping the black man down. Although Washington had honorable goals Dubois gave the people a strong sense of empowerment and worthiness that has helped the black race grows into what it is today.

(Setting the scene) In 1881 a man named Booker T. Washington started a school in Alabama called Tuskegee Institute. His thoughts were very controversial because he said that black people should stop trying to get integrated into white lives and live in their own society. He was once a slave so that changed his perspective to see that blacks were not treated the same. He felt with many others black would have to same rights as whites, but they should also be dependent on themselves. Much later his school became the first school to train black people for war. They were known as the Tuskegee Airmen.

William Edward Burghardt Dubois was the first African-American to earn a doctorate and lived Atlanta Georgia. He was civil rights activist and historian. In 1903 he wrote The Souls of Black Folk where he disagreed with Washington because he felt the color-line was performing a disservice to the black population. While Dubois acknowledges him as, “a compromiser between the South, the North, and the Negro” : he also said,” Mr. Washington is especially to be criticized.” Dubois believed the exact opposite of Washington, he said, “Such men feel in conscience bound to ask of this nation

W.E.B. Du Bois and Booker T. Washington were two very influential leaders in the black community during the late 19th century, early 20th century. However, they both had different views on improvement of social and economic standing for blacks. Booker T. Washington, an ex-slave, put into practice his educational ideas at Tuskegee, which opened in 1881. Washington stressed patience, manual training, and hard work. He believed that blacks should go to school, learn skills, and work their way up the ladder. Washington also urged blacks to accept racial discrimination for the time being, and once they worked their way up, they would gain the respect of whites and be fully accepted as citizens. W.E.B. Du Bois on the other hand, wanted a more

W.E.B. Dubois was the rivaling civil rights leader during the early 20th century. W.E.B. Dubois believed that through political action and education, full-citizenship of African Americans in America would be achieved. At first, he agreed with Booker T. Washington’s teachings, however through time Dubois realized flaws within Washington’s ideas. Dubois, in “Soul of Black Folk” writes, “The black men of America have a duty to perform, a duty stern and delicate, -- a forward movement to oppose a part of the work of their greatest leader. So far as Mr. Washington peaches

Lastly, Du Bois and Washington's individual experiences are historical in the fight for black equality. The two men both lived very fulfilling lives dedicated to their life work of the black cause. Washington began his educational career at the age of 16 at the Hampton Institute while performing janitorial duties to pay his board. After graduating he returned back to West Virginia and taught adults and children. He then went away to study at the Wayland Seminary in Washington D.C. where upon his completion joined the staff at the Hampton Institute. Years later in 1881 he was asked to be the president of the Tuskegee Institution which promoted literacy among freed blacks. Here began the monument of his life work, for the rest of his days would be spent supporting the school. Then, the year 1895 marked a turning point in his life when he gave the Atlanta Compromise Address speech that would outline his beliefs for the rest of his days. Furthermore, in 1900 with help from T. Thomas Fortune the creation of the National Negro Business League happened with Washington the first president. He even accepts and invitation by Andrew Garrison to go to Europe and preach his words of wisdom. The book ends with a speech before a mixed crowd of black and white to the City Council of Richmond, Virginia, and Washington never feeling more hopeful for the African-American race. Like

At Tuskegee University, which he founded, he pushed for students to learn tangible crafts, such as industrial and farming skills. He wanted his students to acquire the virtues of perseverance, innovativeness, and frugality so that they could grow as individuals and realize their self-worth. Essentially, these virtues, in addition to economic prosperity, proved to white people in the south that blacks could be valuable members of society.

Established in history for his tremendous efforts to improve the condition of blacks in the United States, Booker T. Washington well deserves admission into the Progressive Hall of Fame. Washington took it upon his own conscience to deal with the poverty and discrimination faced by black americans during the Jim Crow era. He provided education and economic opportunity to disadvantaged black men at institutes, much like the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama. Though Washington focused moreso on economic equality than social equality, he provided a stepping stone for the future, which would surmount to the furthering of civil rights for blacks.

Although Garvey is heralded as such as strong figure in the improvement of social issues in this period, many other activists took different approaches. For example Washington was an important figure who believed the best interests of African Americans could be realised through education in the crafts and industrial skills. To implement this he founded the Tuskegee school, which had over 100

Washington prioritized economic and educational advancement over political and social equality. For instance, Washington turned down the opportunity to speak to a canvass about the interests of the city. The aesthetic and dignity of labor intrigued Washington. As a leader of the Tuskegee Institute, Washington’s desire to educate African American community in the direction of industrial services was an accomplishment to him. Political and social equality was not his desire and felt his desire to educate was for other purposes. Washington taught a group of Indians and a night school for poor people, to increase the ambition for people to gain an education. During slavery, Washington believed African Americans gained more skills than white people.

African American poet, Booker Taliaferro Washington, born in Virginia April 5, 1856 to November 14, was not only an author, but the educator of his time. Washington excelled in education at Hampton and later used the skills to further his aspirations. With these skills he founded the Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute on the Hampton model in the Black Belt of Alabama. Becoming the spokesman for these organizations, Washington was able to convince employers of the Caucasian ethnicity that these programs would keep blacks on the farm to work. In reality, this idea would enable blacks to escape, have goals, and be free. From these ideas, Washington was able to make the Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute one of the best support systems for African American

At the beginning of the twentieth century there were no two voices more influential in Black America than those of Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois. The staunch differences in their respective ideologies gaining their roots by way of the backgrounds both men endured in the earliest days of American Reconstruction following the Civil War. Booker T. Washington was born into slavery in Virginia on April 5, 1856. Following emancipation his mother moved the family to West Virginia to rejoin her husband. Washington saw the value of education from a young age, and this is what led him to eventually attend and graduate from Hampton University. In 1881 he was recommended by the Hampton President of the time to become the leader of the brand new normal school in Alabama, the Tuskegee Institute. This political and educational position allowed Washington to become a highly trusted voice among those charged with the task of educating the next generation of young, black educators. Hence the amount of attention focused on Booker T. Washington’s famous (some may call infamous) Atlanta Address, in which he states very clearly his take on how African Americans should go about coexisting with white America, primarily in the Southern states.

Washington gained momentum through the small donations made towards his institution to help empower the students through their education. Tuskegee Institution was receiving donations from wealthy contributors; however, it was the small donations that were symbolic of the caliber of faith the community had in Washington and in his students. The small donations given exemplified the sacrifice the lower class community was willing to withstand to place themselves in a better, more educated society. These minute foundations created a foundation that led to Washington’s countless achievements. Not only did the donations act as inspiration for the development of Tuskegee, but Washington himself served as the foundation for the students. Washington established an identity in many of his students at Tuskegee as he gave them accomplishments to be prideful about. By teaching the students to “lift labour up from mere drudgery and toil, to learn to love work for its own sake” (Washington, 72), he gave their work a purpose and therefore the students were able to find their own purpose within the purpose of their work that is later integrated into the community aiding the growth of both the black and white

Booker T. Washington was a young black male born into the shackles of Southern slavery. With the Union victory in the Civil War and the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863, Washington’s family and blacks in the United States found hope in a new opportunity, freedom. Washington saw this freedom as an opportunity to pursue a practical education. Through perseverance and good fortunes, Washington was able to attain that education at Hampton National Institute. At Hampton, his experiences and beliefs in industrial education contributed to his successful foundation at the Tuskegee Institute. The institute went on to become the beacon of light for African American education in the South. Booker T. Washington was an influential voice in the

Lack of industrial training. Many other post-secondary institutions during this time were geared towards a more academic education. On the other hand, Booker T Washington designed Tuskegee to be more of a practical education. Booker T. was a huge advocate for not only educating freemen on liberal arts subjects but emphasizing the importance of learning a trade as well. This diversified education made Tuskegee graduates very marketable. Students were able to continue their education to serve as lawyers or doctors if they so chose, but they could also have an industrial trade to fall back on if troubles arose in their pursuit of a Ph.D.