Booker T. Washington and W. E. B. DuBois were black leaders who held similar ideals. They both believed that whites should eventually recognize blacks as their equals and give them rights such as suffrage and economic freedom. They also acknowledged that because of their lack of education and prosperity, blacks were at a disadvantage to whites. Therefore, as DuBois wrote in his Souls of Black Folk, whites needed to “arouse and encourage” blacks for them to be successful. However, they disagreed on how blacks should attain this success. Washington believed that blacks should flatter whites, act inferior, and appeal purely to whites’ self-interest. The best way to do this was to campaign for economic freedom and industrial education through which …show more content…
He focused on persuading the southerners because if he only convinced northerners to help, they would employ political power to command the southerners. This would alienate Southerners and destroy their ego, but it would not ameliorate conditions for blacks in the South. Southerners controlled the direct implementation of black ruling because of their proximity, so they could disobey the northerners through their local rule, as they did during during Reconstruction. Northerners simply did not have the resources to constantly police the South. Washington addressed the whites’ concern that blacks would be a threat to workingmen once they received industrial education and economic freedom, stating that blacks had always remained loyal and still would; in fact, they would be willing to die for whites. In his Atlanta Exposition Address, he said they would help whites build a better South by “buy[ing] your surplus land, mak[ing] blossom the waste places in your fields, and run[ning] your factories”. Washington even attacked Reconstruction by claiming that blacks were at fault by trying to start from the top instead of working from the bottom up. This claim derogated blacks, but he thought that this was for a good cause as he was trying to fuel the ego and confidence of the white southerners so that they would help blacks achieve more rights. His speech resonated well …show more content…
Washington relied too heavily on the premise that whites will follow their self interest, which he assumed would be to help blacks gain economic freedom and eventually political equality. But the path to attain equal rights was more complicated than that. Whites were too fickle for Washington to predict and rely on. Contrary to his argument, it was not always in the self-interest for all whites to help blacks. Even though providing industrial education to blacks might help Northern factory owners receive more productive labor, these blacks posed a threat to white workingmen. Moreover, many whites did not trust the blacks to loyally serve them because they had often revolted in the past. Moderate Republicans were persuaded through bribes to not side with blacks. Republican presidents saw it in their best interest to allow southern Democrats to control the south as long as they endorsed the president. Eventually, even northern radical Republicans lost interest in helping blacks because of the sheer impracticality. They, a minority, would not be able to garner enough votes if there were too much southern opposition and northern bribery. Essentially, shifting power struggles between parties and corruption demolished any civil progress. For example, during Reconstruction, once moderate northern Republicans realized that their economic situation was not getting better (partly because they had
Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Dubois were both iconic African American leaders. Even though they had the same goal, their mindset was totally different . One believed in economic rights, and the other believed in social and political progress. These men both conquered the goals and made a mark in black history. Striving for different out comes, Booker T Washington and W.E.B .
racial conciliation Washington's philosophy on racial conciliation was embedded in the idea of accommodation. Rather than challenging or confronting white supremacy, Washington encouraged African Americans to prove their worth through hard work, economic success, and good moral character. C. Black economic progress Economic progress was a central theme in Washington's philosophy. He stressed the importance of self-help and economic self-sufficiency for African Americans. D. social equality Washington's philosophy on social equality was that it would come gradually once African Americans proved their worth through hard work, education, and self-sufficiency within their existing communities.
The Atlanta Constitution Booker T. Washington vs W.E.B. Dubois For many years black folks have been suffering under white rule. For many year blacks have been hindered from success, but now blacks have the opportunity to work their way up next to whites if they unite and follow either Booker T. Washington or W.E.B. Dubois. W.E.B. Dubois believes that blacks should demand that blacks fight for their freedom now. On the other hand, Booker T. Washington realizes that the whites aren’t ready for equality with blacks and that they need to gradually increase their freedom by becoming economically successful first then by gradually becoming free. Washington was born into slavery, yet he overcame that great struggle and is an important figure for
Washington and the Desire for a Du Boisian Intellectuality” was an article printed in the magazine The Envy of Erudition. “African Americans have endured the blessings and curses of freedom” (Gibson III 1). With African Americans free hence the blessings of more rights but, in turn gave them curses in shape of Jim Crow laws and the KKK(Ku Klux Klan) making them live in constant fear and intimidation of racism. “Despite the darkness of this sordid moment in history African Americans conjured enough light to make visible one of its greatest leaders, Booker T. Washington” (Gibson III 1). Although everything stacked against African Americans, they were able to educate themselves enough to make a great leader in Booker T. Washington.
Washington (212). He rose up the ranks to become an honored guest and a leader in the Southern communities due to his more palatable ideas on race relations, primarily that black people should be thankful for the chance to earn money working in the factory and to not insist on desegregating social areas of society. His focus on the beauty of Southern culture and the romanticization of the relationship between the black man who built society and the white man benefiting along with the promise that black people would be “faithful”, “patient”, and “unresenting” in relation to white people allowed him to increase his class (213). While people of color have generally been at the bottom of the class hierarchy, people like Washington show that there was the possibility for a few to become exceptions to the rule, as Takaki points
Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. DuBois took different approaches to fight for civil rights but both fought for freedom and equality for people of color. Washington’s approach seemed
However, Washington was not all about racial discrimination because he thought the Caucasian government would give an equality to African-American. However, it was not granted in Southern states. Also, Washington said that industrial education is important to African American in order to live better quality of life. On the
Regardless of the southern whites who feared that education would give blacks “false notions of equality,” Reconstruction governments began to build a comprehensive public school system. Several black “academies” offered more advanced education and grew into an important network of black colleges and universities. Booker T. Washington was the chief spokesman for the importance of education, having worked his way out of poverty after acquiring an education. He strongly believed in expanding the network of black colleges and institutes since education was vital to the future of their people (Doc 7). Washington urged African Americans to adopt the standards of the white middle class to win the respect of the white population.
Washington’s belief that blacks should prove themselves through hard work can reflect on his promotion of vocational education. Several white citizens in the South believed blacks are not worthy nor are able to receive the type of education white citizens had, and Washington wanted to terminate this belief. According to Black Georgia in the Progressive Era by John Dittmer, “...most were suspicious of anything beyond a bare elementary eduucation. Former governor Allen D. Candler wrote, ‘I do not believe in the higher education of the darky. He should be taught the trades, but when he is taught the fine arts he gets educated above his caste which makes him unhappy’”
Washington show's that in finding your true potential we must work in being successful in any field works so we can have a better economy in the South. With Washington’s people, we can give them a hand to change the North and the South economy. “Casting down your bucket among my people, helping and encouraging them as you are doing on these grounds, and to education of head, hand, and heart, you will find that they will buy your surplus land, make blossom, the waste place in your fields, and run your factories”. Washington’s speech is effective because he states that there can be equal job opportunities for business owners from the South. He hopes that the whites would give blacks a chance at
Thesis statement: The two great leaders in the black community debating about the issues that face the Negro race and Du Bois gave a compelling argument by using pathos, logos and ethos to create an essay that will appear to all readers. Outline: This essay will showcase the contradicting philosophies between W.E.B Du Bois and Booker T. Washington. Also, paying close attention to the different types of leadership between the two historic leaders in the black community. Both W.E.B Du Bois and Booker T. Washington contributed to and helped shape the future of African Americans.
Booker T. Washington & W.E.B. DuBois Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. DuBois were both well-known black leaders of the late 19th and early 20th centuries (Muhummad, K., 2013). They were both instrumental in the educational development of African Americans and advocates of civil rights. Although they shared a few similar goals when it came to civil rights for African Americans, due to the vast difference in their upbringing, Washington and DuBois’ strategy for blacks gaining those rights were different (Muhummad, K., 2013). Whereas Washington was a bit more passive, DuBois was more outspoken and confrontational. No matter the differences in their approach, the end goal they had in mind was the same.
Booker T. Washington and WEB Dubois used many strategies and work ethics to help stop and decrease the discrimination against African Americans in the 19th and 20th Centuries. They both helped with education and Literacy for People of color. Dubois believed that social equality needed to be demanded and fought for. While Washington Believed that It needed to be earned. They both have very different views about it but still believe the same thing; education is important for everyone.
Washington addressed “It is at the bottom of life we must begin, and not at the top” he was fighting for the rights of African Americans He believed the best way to do this was for African Americans to accept that they are inferior. Booker T. Washington believed that African Americans and whites should be equal and kept “separate as the fingers”. DuBois was a African American man that was born not as a slave but still believed that African Americans and Whites should be equal. In contrast, DuBois believed that African American boys should have the same education as White boys.
Critics argue that even with his reputation and political place (National Spokesperson) he did not demand for more equality for the African American population. Laws such as the Jim Crow and Black Codes prohibited blacks to vote or engage in political meetings. Overall, I think Washington did a great job of helping the African American community gain educational rights. He worked hard to give the blacks what they needed (education) and at the same time kept peace within the two races.