One of the most philosophical and literary arguments of all time was between two prominent and powerful men representing the same race. Despite these two great men’s literary talents in reading and in writing; they had many differences with how the African-American man should live: socially, economically, and politically. Booker T. Washington and W.E. Dubois had different perspectives on how the African-American should thrive and function in society; However, DuBois’s approach of resilience reaches out to many more African-Americans politically, economically, and socially because DuBois believed it was the time for change.
Financially, DuBois sought to help the African-American man to prosper. DuBois’s focus was to encourage African-Americans
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Washington’s economics was based on vocational training. In “W.E.B. DuBois and Booker T. Washington Debate,” Watson and Johnson discuss, Washington was a student at Hampton Institute and became convinced that vocational education was the only means by which Blacks would become successful” (65). Financially, Washington believes working a vocational job would benefit the African American to work financially. In order for African-Americans to prove themselves. Washington claimed it was important to be indispensable and do anything to earn a living. Washington states, “blacks needed the right form of education would be beneficial in an economic sense” (66). In addition, Washington felt that industrial educational for achieving his goal of Black social improvement” (66). Unlike DuBois, who believes it is important to learn and to explore knowledge; Washington prefers one to acquire a trade and use it to support his family. Watson and Johnson continue to claim, “Washington believed that a black education should be so directed that the greatest proportion of the mental strength of the masses will be brought… that is needed to be done” (66). In order to thrive economically, Washington’s focus was on self-help and acquiring a trade. However, Washington was too accommodating. The two critics state, “The emphasis on manual training and the trades served to destroy the educational aspirations…and wiped out the hope that education could provide a way out of …show more content…
At the same time, Dubois politically supports the rights not only for African Africans, but also, for white women as well. In Valethia Watkins, “Votes for Women: Race, Gender, and W.E. B. DuBois’s Advocacy of Women Suffrage” DuBois articulates, “Women are mothers of men; if men vote, why not women” (29). As a result, Dubois believes everyone should have the right to vote, no matter what gender because he believes in equality and in justice. In fact, many scholars claim DuBois is a successor to Frederick Douglass by leading the way to equal opportunities for women’s rights. From her standpoint, Watkins explains how black men, have nonetheless been unfairly described by some feminists and women’s suffrage activists as opponents of women suffrage. Watkins discusses DuBois’s view on African American and women suffrage, “In a number of editorials, sought to reconstruct the linkages between women suffrage and the Black suffrage struggle by emphasizing the common ground between two political objectives” (7). As editor in the NAACP, DuBois used his credentials to widely disseminate his views of political equality for women and demonstrate how franchising women was in the service to the larger cause of justice. Most importantly, the critic writes out DuBois’s three main points of voting
When it all comes down to it, one of the greatest intellectual battles U.S. history was the legendary disagreement between Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. DuBois. This intellectual debate sparked the interest of the Northerners as well as the racist whites that occupied the south. This debate was simply about how the blacks, who just gained freedom from slavery, should exist in America with the white majority. Even though Washington and DuBois stood on opposite sides of the fence they both agreed on one thing, that it was a time for a change in the treatment of African Americans. I chose his topic to write about because I strongly agree with both of the men’s ideas but there is some things about their views that I don’t agree with. Their
The debate between Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Dubois turned out to be one of the greatest intellectual as well as inspiring battles in our United States history. This great debate sparked the interest of African Americans and whites throughout the entire country. Both men had distinct views on how blacks should go about progressing politically, socially, as well as financially here in the United States. 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, while Washington, on the other hand, often ignored discrimination. He believed that it was important for blacks to develop
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
Washington feels that African Americans need to focus on physical labor and not try to expand their minds. Washington says, “…live by the productions of our hands, and fail to keep in mind that we shall prosper in proportion as we learn to draw the line between the superficial…” (573). One can see that Washington feels that all African American should do is physical labor and they should be fine. While, Du Bois feels the need to expand the mind and gain more knowledge and further their education. Du Bois feels that there is more the African American than just working the fields or in a factory. Du Bois says, “but if that reconciliation is to be marked by the industrial slavery and civic death of those same black men, with permanent legislation into a position of inferiority…” (701). One can see that Washington feels that African Americans need to just stick to what they know. This would be working in factories, fields, and other physical labor jobs. Du Bois believes that African Americans can further themselves in life if they get the proper education that they need. African Americans need to go to college so they can achieve a successful
When it all comes down to it, one of the greatest intellectual battles U.S. history was the legendary disagreement between Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. DuBois. This intellectual debate sparked the interest of the Northerners as well as the racist whites that occupied the south. This debate was simply about how the blacks, who just gained freedom from slavery, should exist in America with the white majority. Even though Washington and DuBois stood on opposite sides of the fence they both agreed on one thing, that it was a time for a change in the treatment of African Americans. I chose his topic to write about because I strongly agree with both of the men’s ideas but there is some things about their views that I don’t agree with. Their
During the 19th and 20th century African Americans faced Discrimination in the United States. Three African Americans took roles of leadership and began trying to uplift the lives of blacks in society. Those who took control of this movement were Booker T. Washington, Marcus Garvey and W.E.B Dubois. These activists wanted the same result and implemented different techniques to follow their similar hopes for blacks in America. Each of these leaders has allowed America to develop in extensive ways for several years and those yet to come. Alternate pathways were taken by each leader to resolve the overall issue of racism. These issues include things such as not having the right to vote,own property and prevent lynchings. This paper will argue that had Garvey's theory of the new negro and Dubois’ ideas of education been implemented, racism in America would have been reduced because the allocation of education would allow for their to become a new negro. The application of Marcus Garvey's theory including thoughts of W.E.B Dubois’ on racism would have brought white power to an end.
The struggle for equality and the battle to have one’s suppressed voice be heard is prevalent throughout the history of the United States. The Native Americans, women, and even Catholics have all encountered discrimination and belittlement in one shape or form, which eventually urged individuals within those groups to rise up and demand equal opportunity. As the United States began to shift away from slavery, one of the most deep rooted, controversial dilemmas aroused- what do black people need to do in order to gain civil rights both economically and socially? Booker T. Washington’s “Atlanta Exposition Address” and W.E.B. Du Bois's “The Soul of Black Folks” were pieces of writings influenced by the puzzle that black people were left to solve. Booker T. Washington and W.E.B Du Bois had contrasting ideas, but they both contributed a piece to the puzzle in hopes of solving the never ending mind game.
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 and Booker T. Washington were both highly intelligent African American men who wrote about the disparities between the lives of whites and blacks in the United States during the nineteenth and into the twentieth centuries. Each man saw the way in which his fellow African Americans were being treated by the white majority and used their intelligence and persuasive skills to bring attention to this very serious issue. Both men fought for equality through nonviolent protest and the application of logical argument and reasoning in order to better their lives and those of their social and ethnic brothers. Despite their shared goal of racial and sociological equality, the two men had very different ideas about how equality would be achieved and about what the African American community should or ought to expect in terms of actually obtaining that equality.
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.
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.
He stated that “Negroes must insist continually …that voting is necessary to modern manhood, that color discrimination is barbarism, and that black boys need education as well as white boys” (Du Bois 27). Along with education, voting is also an important factor of realizing and maintaining a sense of self and culture in a prejudiced region. Voting allows for the voice of the people to be heard, and peoples of various races and backgrounds should be allowed to express their unique and various opinions in order to gain a more representative result in elections. In his quote, Du Bois uses the word “insist,” which suggests a more peaceful method without losing the implicit aggressiveness that is required to insist for change (Du Bois 27). He also states that to gain civil rights, African Americans should insist for them “by every civilized and peaceful method” (Du Bois 29). Again, Du Bois supports a more peaceful form of advocacy while refusing to compromise with a more popular
DuBois’s purpose is to try to convince people to see blacks as equal to whites, and DuBois largely uses people’s patriotism to make his readers relate and associate with his cause. These appeals to emotion, combined with his strong voice and diction, create an effective argument for equal rights and treatment for all people.
Education is arguably one of the most important foundational assets one could invest in. The business of self investment and being aware of one’s situation and applying knowledge to discover solutions. The approach towards education and civil rights for blacks during the reconstruction was one that had immensely different strategies and ideologies. DuBois argues how Washington fails to include the injustices in which blacks face on a civil level that also have an affect on education in his speech. Blacks were often penalized and charged for crimes that they did not commit and then forced into indentured servitude to pay off debts. In Washington’s explanation as to why blacks should focus on industrial skills, he also suggested the formation
Dubois urges the continuation of conversation and action to remedy social issue that have lasted since before the creation of the nation with the publication of the series of essays 40 years after the emancipation of the four enslaved states in the Union. The viewing of different perspective and learning what Dubois thought of each event and person help to demonstrate what experiences were like from people that history has left out of the story. Throughout The Souls of Black Folks, W.E.B. Dubois discusses many topics in particular the concept of double consciousness, the difference between Booker T Washington and himself, and experiences that Dubois went through also including acquaintances which were explained and examined during class discussion. Driven by political fronts, Dubois organizes his thoughts with chronological occurrence of problems that occurred within his life.