W.E.B. DuBois’s novel “the soul of the black folks” describes the movements of being an slave to a freeman throughout his novel. The souls of the black folks is an interesting novels, that presents the readers a view point through the lens of a African American in the twentieth Century and the problems that arise due to their own skin colors. In this novel we are shown the importance of education and assimilation towards getting the right to vote. The setup of this novel is interesting, each chapter we begin by reading a poem that describes what the chapter is about, these poems are written by different Arthurs and each author is from a different time-line. These poems are really powerful because they create images for us to see which in turn shows us the separation of whites and Blacks. Once in the chapters we are given DuBois on personal experience that …show more content…
From the reading you could see that W.E.D> DuBois was a well-educated man that purposed for education for everyone, his Ideal view on education was that he knew that getting an education for African- Americans was one way that would change the social systems and human development. He knew that educated Blacks would get more respect and rights than that of an uneducated African America. His main view that I understood from the novel based on education, was that for African American to get equal treatment and citizenship was through elite educational systems. Ironically, DuBois fought with another African American, Booker T. Washington on the basics of education and having good systems. Washington, a man loved by both white and African- Americans believed that Blacks should get an education, but it should be one that related to working under whites and not rising above them. Dubois does not like this and he express his dislike for Washington’s
washington knew that blacks would never be equal to the whites. DuBois wrote a book called, "We want to be Americans, full-fledged Americans, with all the rights of American citizens." DuBois also criticized Washington's Tuskegee approach as an attempt "to educate black boys and girls simply as servants and underlings." DuBois had become the leading black figure in the United States. Dubois encouraged African-Americans to work hard, regardless of their careers. Both Du Bois and Washington wanted African-Americans to have the same rights as white Americans. But Du Bois encouraged African-Americans to demand equal rights. Washington, on the other hand, often ignored discrimination. He believed that it was important for blacks to develop good relationships with whites. He was afraid that blacks who demanded equal rights would create ill will between themselves and white Americans. Washington said to an all white audience that "In all things social we can be as separate as the fingers, yet one as the hand in all things essential to mutual progress." That quote meant that blacks and whites can all do the same things. In conclusion, Booker T. Washington focused on having education for real life jobs and not asking for equality from the
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.
One of the primary differences between DuBois and Washington was in the ways they believed equality would be achieved. DuBois believed that political change was the first step in achieving equality. If the black populous worked on economy only then they would perpetuate the stereotypes that white people place upon them. By accepting racist and prejudicial viewpoints, the African American communities were affirming their inferiority to the white majority. Only through political equality, for example the right to vote, could men enact any real or meaningful social and
Booker T. Washington was slave who became a self-made man. William E.B. DuBois was a northerner with a New England background e had his P.H.D. from Harvard University. Booker T. Washington's philosophy was the concern of the African Americans it was tempered by his belief in concerning the role of African Americans was tempered by his belief in “settlement”. He honestly felt that if the African Americans race ignored the discrimination, and concentrated on their economic future, that their political rights would in fact follow. He believed in no shame in manual labor. Mr. W.E.B. DuBois strongly believed that the African American race should have limited themselves to vocational labor but to defiantly educate themselves to have knowledge and know all their rights to be a citizen. He rejected the idea of “settlement’ and felt that would happen through political equality (voting rights), and the African Americans achieve economic and social equality. DeBois philosophy had more active meaning to it when being compared with the philosophy of Booker T.
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
W.E.B. DuBois, in The Souls of Black Folk describes the very poignant image of a veil between the blacks and the whites in his society. He constructs the concept of a double-consciousness, wherein a black person has two identities as two completely separate individuals, in order to demonstrate the fallacy of these opinions. J.S. Mill also describes a certain fallacy in his own freedom of thought, a general conception of individuals that allows them to accept something similar to DuBois’ double-consciousness and perpetuates the existence of the veil.
W.E.B. DuBois was a very strong advocate for black people being treated equally to white people. He co-founded the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) Which was a very important part of the civil rights movement. The NAACP was “created to work for the abolition of segregation and discrimination in housing, education, employment, voting, and transportation; to oppose racism; and to ensure African Americans their constitutional rights”. He also created a book called “The Souls Of Black Folk” Which made him more popular, with the main Idea of the book being that the “central problem of the Twentieth Century is the problem of the color line.” He was a man who fought for equality, where Booker T. Washington, on the other hand, did not. Booker T. Washington thought that black people should in fact have different rights then white people, and that instead of fighting it, black people should just accept it, and focus on economic self-improvement. He also believed that black people should not fight for equal rights, because it would lead to more anti-black violence, such as lynching which is the act of killing someone, most commonly by hanging, by mob action and without legal authority. By these facts you can tell that Washington and
Dubois writings, unlike Washington’s writings survived aging and sounds modern. Both Dubois and Washington, however, wanted the best for their people, both were sincerely engaged in racial uplift, and therefore in the end neither was “right” or “wrong.” Indeed, Washington’s ideas fitted the era that he lived in and Dubois ideas the future.
W.E.B. DuBois, a black intellectual believed that Washington's strategy would only serve to perpetuate white oppression. DuBois initially advocated for Washington's strategy, however he grew to find it unacceptable as he became more outspoken about racial injustice. DuBois campaigned for a civil rights agenda and argued that educated blacks could accomplish social change. With the belief that African Americans should work together to battle inequality DuBois helped found the NAACP. DuBois was not content with attempting to gain an economic foothold; he wanted absolute equality in all aspects of life. DuBois believed that Washington "devalued the study of liberal arts, and ignored the economic exploitation of the black masses. He believed that "The Negro Race, like all races, is going to be saved by its exceptional men. The problem of education then, among Negroes, must first of all deal with the Talented Tenth.' [which] is the problem of developing the best of this race that they may guide the Mass away from the contamination and death of the worst." He believed that the economic and political issues facing African Americans could be solved if the most talented ten
He claims that all parties involved were silenced and began to practice Washington’s teachings. DuBois sees Washington as a paradox that takes away the rights of the African American yet advocates for them to do better. He believes Washington is shifting the weight of the problem onto the African American people rather than everyone as a whole. 2.
The Souls of Black Folk by W.E.B Dubois is a influential work in African American literature and is an American classic. In this book Dubois proposes that "the problem of the Twentieth Century is the problem of the color-line." His concepts of life behind the veil of race and the resulting "double-consciousness, this sense of always looking at one's self through the eyes of others," have become touchstones for thinking about race in America. In addition to these lasting concepts, Souls offers an evaluation of the progress of the races and the possibilities for future progress as the nation entered the twentieth century.
Furthermore, Du Bois disagreed with Booker T. Washington’ submission to the domination of the whites. In other words, Booker T. Washington accepted the fact that whites could control all African Americans and the economy as long as blacks could have jobs, and get a decent education. According to Leff (2000), the whites favored Booker T. Washington because he agreed to the denial of African American rights to have any power in the political institution. On the other hand, Dubois critiqued Booker T. Washington’s point of view, and he wanted to fix the problem by operating against Booker T. Washington’s beliefs. Dubois perceived race as a major problem in society, therefore, he would not adhere to
Firstly, DuBois presented clearer ideas than Washington did. Washington just requested education for black Americans, whereas DuBois demanded an integrated, legitimate education. There was no room for loopholes in DuBois’ plan, while Washington’s plan possibly could not make any real progress towards racial equality due to its lack of specificities. Also, DuBois’ plans had greater merits in changing the nation than Washington’s plan. Washington’s plan was slightly beneficial to African Americans because it pushed for education for black people in the country, however had no major effect on the status of African Americans in the long-run. He agreed to segregation and racial inequality, therefore he did not ask for any major changes to the racial pyramid of the nation. While Washington did not ask for any significant reforms, DuBois did. DuBois had the goal of making African Americans socially, economically, and politically equal under the law of the country in every way. DuBois wanted to actually change the racial dynamics of the country. The merits of his plan strongly exceeded the goals of Washington’s
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.
DuBois stresses the importance of education amongst the black race. He believes that African Americans should be educated in order to guide and