W.E.B Dubois Thoughts on Education Essay

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

The school system in the country districts of the South is a disgrace and in few towns and cities are Negro schools what ought to be...and...when we call for education we mean real education,” he effectively made his audience view the logic in his claim about racial equality with a specific emphasis on the education of adults and more specifically children (DuBois 2). Mr. DuBois, being the well-educated man that he was, understood that by presenting his claim of educational importance in a logically and sound way, his audience would be exponentially more likely to agree with his view and act on his cause, which is exactly what transpired after his speech. In Mr. Washington’s attempt to persuade his audience in favor of educating the African American population, he chose to appeal to his perverse audience 's sense of desire and ambition. He stated that by “casting down [their] bucket among many people, helping and encouraging them as [they] are doing on these grounds, and to education of head, hand, and heart, [they] will find that [African Americans] will buy [their] surplus land, make blossom the waste of places in [their] fields, and run [their] factories” (Washington 2). In stating his claim the way he did, he hoped that his audience, which was comprised primarily of white, land-owning southerners, would realize the possible economic benefits that would result from educating the black population, and that their innate desire for material wealth would drive them to

One of the late 19th century and early 20th century’s most prominent black empowerment leaders was W.E.B DuBois. In research it is clear that DuBois was not subtle to one job or career choice. His main goal was to improve the lives of African Americans. As a Civil Rights activist, sociologist, educator, historian, writer, editor, poet, and scholar, DuBois contributed to changing American society today.

They are currently without social rights, political rights, and higher education. Without the help of the upper class Whites, African American will be stuck in this treacherous position as “free slaves.” According to DuBois, the “Negro problem” through Washington’s doctrine, lies on “the Negro’s shoulder.” This is wrong because it is absolutely impossible for them to achieve this on their own. The Whites of the country are a massive part to this equation. DuBois voices his opinion on the subject when he states that “this burden belongs to the nation, and the hands of none of us are clean if we bend not our energies to righting these wrongs.” Although this completely contradicts Washington’s view, DuBois had the right

DuBois does not place full responsibility on Black Americans to solve their social problems for he calls for the abolition of racism to be achieved through the education of both blacks and whites. DuBois emphasizes that the standards of popular education “must seek the social regeneration of the Negro, and it must help in the solution of problems of race contact and cooperation”. Additionally, “it will demand broad-minded, upright men, both white and black, and in its final accomplishment American civilization will triumph”. DuBois holds whites, especially educated white people,

Dubois contribution to society and sociology is that he was the first African American to earn a doctorate degree from Harvard University. Not only did he earn a doctorate degree, but he went on to being known as one of the America’s greatest civil rights activist. According to page 12 of our introduction to sociology textbook, his biggest contribution to sociology is his concept of “double consciousness” .This was Dubois way of explaining of what has happened in the African American community, and having a chance to explain it to society as a whole. He was also the first social researcher to trace the problems faced by African Americans to their social and economic

However they were all of the opinion that whilst others might free the body of blacks from being used as slaves, it is black people’s responsibility to free themselves from their mind. Washington advised black people to remain in the South and try by all means to avoid politics, instead they should protest in favor of industrial education (). But after a while many authors argued against his vision as they saw him as a selfish politician who had too much power but used it for his own advantage (). Although there were differences between Washington and DuBois visions there were also similarities as they both blamed African Americans for being poor and inferior, they emphasized on self-help and moral improvement rather than on rights. Moreover, DuBois challenged Washington’s program when the final emphasis on industrial education drew resources away from black liberal arts education and he saw that as an injustice (). He saw Washington’s approach as an attempt to educate African Americans to be servants and inferiors. He demanded for all black citizens’ the civic equity, education of black youth according to ability, and the right to vote

Like Washington, Dubois believed that education was instrumental in achieving equality, but he favored a more academic approach. He thought that all African Americans should seek a liberal arts education and encouraged educated blacks, which he called the “talented tenth”, to attempt full integration into American society. Dubois also founded the Niagara movement in 1905, which later became the powerful civil rights group the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, or the NAACP. Although these two men were very different philosophically, they both had the same overall goal; to achieve social and economic equality for African Americans. Personally, I prefer Dubois’ approach to the situation because it literally says in the Constitution that all men are created equal. African Americans shouldn’t have to settle for an inferior statue simply due to their skin color. African Americans deserve to be treated equally, but it can’t be accomplished without strong pushes from the African American

Opposing the ideas that black people need only some skills-training in order to be able to work, he was defending the position that black people should be able to access higher education just like white people. As it's not the education that makes people's lives miserable but lack thereof: “The training of the schools we need today more than ever, – the training of deft hands, quick eyes and ears, and above all the broader, deeper, higher culture of gifted minds and pure hearts. … Freedom, too, the long-sought, we still seek, – the freedom of life and limb, the freedom to work and think, the freedom to love and aspire. Work, culture, liberty, – all those we need, not singly but together, not successively but together...” I think that it is an extremely powerful passage from DuBois, very succinctly and emotionally he draws attention to the fact that if a certain group is denied access to basic things – work, culture, liberty – there is no surprise that this group is seen as the outcast, but it's not the fault of this group, the problem is structural – give these people what they are denied and watch miraculous changes

Throughout his passage, DuBois made a very clear warning toward African Americans that if they were not careful, their race would soon be no more. In assimilating to the white culture, Du Bois believed they would “cease to be Negroes as such and become white in action if not completely in color” (DuBois, W.E.B., 135) He knew that while his fellow Negroes

DuBois was born in Massachusetts in 1868. The Emancipation Proclamation was delivered 5 years before, delivered by Lincoln which abolished slavery and the year where the 14th Amendment was passed. DuBois never had encountered any racism issue until he went to a school in the south. He started to realize that blacks were being treated differently. After a few years of hard work and travelling all around the world, he succeeded to be the first African-American to graduate from Harvard University. Meeting people with different thoughts and views enabled DuBois to bring the idea back to the United States. It was when he started to write “The Souls of Black Folks”. which addressed the main problem in the 20th century which is the color line and wrote about ‘double consciousness’. As he wrote, “One ever feels his twoness; an American, a Negro, two souls, two thoughts, two unreconciled, two waring ID”. He talked about how African-Americans feels that they are Americans but at the same time they felt like Americans that were rejected by their own

I have had to do a lot of research on W.E.B DuBois in order to understand the significance this quote had in the past. I have come to learn that W.E.B. DuBois was a sociologist, which meant that he studied social behavior. A lot of DuBois life was spent being a voice for African Americas who were was being denied equality in life as well as in education. I believe that the DuBois quote “Education must not simply teach work—it must teach life”, meant that in order to gain a successful profession in life, we first must know how to live. We must know how to be social amongst others and how to show dignity and respect. These are qualities that DuBois advocated for African Americans so that they could equally gain a fair education. DuBois so wanted

Dubois on the other hand believed that civil rights and equality were a priority and that booker t’s ideas would only make things worse by continuing to make them second class citizens this was one of the reasons his books souls of black folks was written was to challenge booker t’s ideas

Throughout the selected readings there is a reoccurring message that Dubois is trying to persuade readers of; and that is that for African Americans as a race of people to be productive members of society they require the same set of tools as that of white Americans-political power, social equality and the opportunity of higher

He emphasizes this by stating “this is the curriculum of that Higher Education which must underlie true life. On this foundation we may build bread winning, skill of hand and quickness of brain”(DuBois). Washington, on the other hand, believes the negro should be educated on their desired specialty skill. He states “They do not put into their hands the tools they are best fitted to use, and hence so many failures” (Washington). Washington’s view on education differs from DuBois because he believes education should be geared towards the kind of work the negro will be