The Effectiveness of Martin Luther King Jr, as Opposed to Booker T. Washington, W.E.B. Dubois and Malcom X

The essay that I am presenting today is “Strivings of the Negro People” by W.E.B Dubois. This essay was written in as an article in the Atlantic Monthly in 1987, but before I get to essay, I would like to give some background information about Mr. Dubois. Both scholar and activist, W.E.B. Du Bois was born on February 23, 1868, in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. He studied at Harvard University and, in 1895, became the first African American to earn a doctorate from Harvard. He wrote extensively and was the best known spokesperson for African American rights during the first half of the 20th century. Du Bois co-founded the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People in 1909. He died in

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.

Even after the abolishment of slavery, African - Americans fought for their equal rights and opportunities. When slavery ended radical discrimination has became big obstacle, only a few found the courage to speak out on their beliefs for a new change. Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois both share a few commonalities; expressing strong opposition against segregation, and a massive amount of education. W.E.B Dubois and Booker T. Washington were two very influential leaders in the black community during the late 19th century. They were both well-educated African- Americans; who wanted justice and equal rights for African – Americans. But they both had different points of view on economic and improvement of social standing for blacks. W.E.B Du Bois argued that Africans- Americans deserved the same rights as whites and they should not have to sacrifice their constitutional rights in order to achieve a status that they already deserved. On the other hand Booker T. Washington believed that blacks has to gradually work their way from the bottom to the top, achieve positions of power and responsibility, and then demand their rights for equal citizenship. Du Bois’s argument is more effective because every person deserves to be treated equally whether they have an education or not. WEB Du Bois had a better method of achieving his goal, because it didn’t give whites any type of power.

Booker T. Washington and W.E.B DuBois are two very powerful people who were very good at molding the social and political views of African Americans through their writings in the twentieth century. Washington clashed with other black leaders such as W.E.B DuBois. W.E.B DuBois said that “Washington’s views were born out of present reality.” Washington and DuBois had very similar goals but they both faced and handled the problems of African Americans in different ways. Booker T. Washington and W.E.B DuBois had one thing that they both wanted to do, and that was to accomplish getting education for all African Americans. They both had two very separate and different views on how to accomplish having African Americans educated. To get to this goal, the African American community was split into two because they would either support the views of Booker T. Washington which were that he believed in industrial and agricultural labor, or they supported the views of W.E.B DuBois which was a strategy to be put through higher education to then have first-class citizenship for the African-American race.

Both Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois recognized that there was a gap between them that took completely different approaches to achieve one goal. Until the time of Du Bois, Washington was among many of the black activists. Many people today still condemn the views of Washington and his “racial uplift.” Washington being educated in Hampton, a Freedman’s Bureau, believed that if you were taught the skills, African Americans would be able to improve themselves economically and the rest of equality would follow. But DuBois on the other hand was educated at Harvard, and he

Dr. W. E. B. DuBois was known as an African American hero who truly believed that a person's vocational calling should be dictated by ability and choice, not by race. DuBois, unlike Booker T. Washington, not only demanded an immediate change but also drastic change, and was not afraid to challenge both blacks and whites on social and educational issues to accomplish change because he knew at that point, something needed to happen now. His strong activism and courage set the stage for future changes in the African American and White American race relations.

Born February 23, 1868 as William Edward Burghardt Dubois in Great Bannington Massachusetts, W.E.B Dubois was one of the greatest sociologist and protest leaders in history (BIO., 2013). After earning a degree at Fisk, Dubois earned a bachelor’s degree at Harvard, and later became the first African-American to earn a PhD from Harvard. Dubois contributed many articles about race, such as his dissertation “The Suppression of the African Slave-Trade to the United States of America”, “The Philadelphia Negro: A Social Study”, and “The Souls of Black Folk (BIO., 2013).

Thorpe (1955) says that DuBois’ Niagara Movement presented a “militant type of leadership” (163). Martin (1962) found that DuBois exhibited executive leadership too, but only temporarily and situational because of his “initiation, organization, and guidance of the Niagara Movement” (99). However, it was intellectual leadership that gave DuBois his credence. DuBois’ expansive education had prepared him for such undertakings as to be a national leader, and Martin (1962) posits that DuBois’ rise to leader status came from his lyrical prose in The Souls of Black Folk. Later, he was given an opportunity to serve as the NAACP’s editor of The Crisis, which gave his ideologies a national platform. Martin calls him a “leader of ideas and mobilizer of public opinion” (100). Martin (1962) classifies DuBois as a protest leader too, specifically citing his constant call for immediate equality based on the fact that Blacks should be given the same rights and privileges as other Americans. DuBois was unbending in his proclamation that Blacks should have equality, in opposition to Washington’s belief in accommodating in order to achieve

During the twentieth century, Dubois was known to be the best spokesperson for the rights of African American. One of his main perspectives was very similar with Washington’s. Dubois perspective was mainly towards making African Americans work towards their living. Although both DuBois and Washington wanted equality they had different views. DuBois disagreed with Washington in many ways, “Mr. Washington represents in Negro thought the old attitude of adjustment and submission.” He believed that by fighting, aggressive court action,

In the early history of the civil rights movement two distinguished African American leaders, Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. William Edward Burghardt Du Bois arose to accomplish one goal, education for all African Americans. throughout the turn of the century, between the years 1895 and 1915 there have been several theories on how African Americans were about to attain first-class citizenship. With 2 separate views on a way to accomplish this goal, the African American community was split in half on who to support. whereas Booker T. Washington believed in industrial and agricultural labor, W.E.B. William Edward Burghardt Du Bois projected a method of pursuit through education so as to achieve first-class citizenship for the African

Pioneer in the struggle for Afro-American liberation and for African liberation, prolific black scholar, W.E.B. DuBois (1868 - 1963) was one of the giants of the twentieth century. (Foner, flap text)

My mother always told me, “If you don’t like what’s being said, change the conversation,” and DuBois surely took note of this advice. DuBois and Washington are both extremely notable activists, but when comparing the works of the two there are a plethora of differences in their plans. The pros and cons will be observed through the following texts: Washington’s Atlanta Compromise and DuBois’s The Souls of Black Folk. DuBois is the more auspicious activist not only because he isn’t just all hat and no cattle, but because his plan for Negro success is much more noteworthy. To begin with, Washington was a more pragmatic thinker

W.E.B. DuBois and Booker T. Washington both strived for the same goal, the end of discrimination against African Americans. Washington opted for a more passive way of fighting back, while DuBois advocated for a more abrupt and hostile way of protesting. Overall, both men desired equality, but I feel Washington’s methods were the best for the well-being of African Americans. Furthering one’s education to go out into the workforce and obtain a quality job would show the white population that African Americans were able to benefit the United States. They are assisting themselves and are also progressively combatting discrimination. Even though the acceptance would take time, the end result would be worth it. Meanwhile, DuBois promoted that education

During a time period when slavery had finally come to an end, African Americans still struggled as their opportunities for equality were next to nonexistent. In this time of hardship and unfair treatment, not many of those facing these adversities had the courage to speak out on their beliefs for change; Booker T. Washington and WEB Dubois, however, did not possess such fears — both thoroughly articulated their opinions and stood for what they believed was right. Booker T. Washington and WEB Dubois shared a few commonalities — both men were highly educated, for example, as well as they both expressed strong opposition against segregation. Washington’s Up from Slavery: An Autobiography and Dubois’

Racial discrimination, political, social and economic inequality during the late 19th century and early 20th century led various leaders within the black community to rise up and address the appalling circumstances that African Americans were forced to endure. Among these leaders were Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. DuBois whom possessed analogous desires as it pertained to the advancement and upliftment of the black race. While both individuals were fighting for the same cause and purpose they embraced contrary ideologies and approaches to African American struggle. In Booker T. Washington’s book “Up from Slavery” African Americans were encouraged to be passive and focus on vocational education whereas in W.E.B. DuBois book “The Souls of Black Folk”, African Americans were encouraged to fight for their merited rights and focus on academic education. However, although Washington was convinced that his ideologies would sincerely uplift the black race, they actually proved to be detrimental, leaving DuBois ideology to be the most reasonable and appropriate solution for the advancement of the black race.