Compare And Contrast Booker T Washington And W. T. Dubois

Signs of Progress Among the Negroes, by Booker T, Washington. The Century Magazine, January 1900. New York City, New York. 11 pages. Reviewed by Jozlyn Clark Booker T. Washington (April 5, 1856 – November 14, 1915) was an American educator, author and leader of the African American community.

Booker T. Washington was born a slave and worked as a janitor to get through school. Whereas W.E.B. Du Bois was born in the North and faced very little discrimination, and had an easier time getting into College. They were well educated, and the only difference between them was how they were raised in different environments. Both were on the journey to improve African American’s social and political status in America. However, they had different methods for getting what they wanted.

During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois emerged as prominent African American leaders with distinct educational philosophies. Both Washington and Du Bois recognized the importance of education in addressing the challenges faced by the African American population. However, their approaches and visions for social change differed significantly. This essay will compare and contrast the educational philosophies of Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois, exploring how these philosophies reflect their social visions and solutions for the problems confronting the African American community. Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois were two prominent African American leaders who had different educational philosophies in relation to their social visions.

Differing Views on the Advancement of the Negro Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois were both leaders in the black community during the late nineteenth century and early twentieth century. These men had very different views on how African Americans should advance in society, the role and kind of education that would best assist African Americans, as well as the importance of race relations with whites. After slavery ended there was a long period of time where blacks were not treated fairly in the South and they aspired to move north to find some form of equality. Booker T. Washington was born into slavery and was a slave for the first six years of his life.

Washington believed that by working hard and becoming successful in business and industry, African Americans would eventually earn the respect and acceptance of white Americans. Washington stated in his speech, "In all things that are purely social we can be as separate as the fingers, yet one as the hand in all things essential to mutual progress." Throughout the speech, he also emphasized the importance of education and self-improvement for the African American community. Stating, "No race can prosper till it learns that there is as much dignity in tilling a field as in writing a poem. It is at the bottom of life we must begin, and not at the

Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois were two of the most important African American leaders of the early 20th century. Although they both fought for African American equality, they had very different ideas about how to get there. Practical accommodationism, which Booker T. Washington promoted, encouraged African-Americans to put forth a lot of effort and succeed through economic growth and education. He was of the opinion that African Americans shouldn't demand immediate rights, but instead focus on eventually obtaining respect and equality through hard effort and economic success. Washington supported segregation as well, arguing that it would provide African-Americans with more chances.

Du Bois, on the other hand, had a very different vision of what freedom should look like for African Americans in the South. In his essay “Of Booker T. Washington and Others,” published in 1903, Du Bois criticized Washington’s emphasis on economic progress and self-reliance. He argued that this approach only perpetuated the idea that African Americans were inferior and could only gain acceptance through hard work and submission. Du Bois wrote, “Mr. Washington distinctly asks that black people give up, at least for the present, three things— First, political power, Second, insistence on civil rights, Third, higher education of Negro youth—and concentrate all their energies on industrial education, the accumulation of wealth, and the conciliation of the South.” 3 Du Bois believed this approach only reinforced the idea that African Americans were second-class citizens and that true freedom could only be achieved through political and social

Frederick Douglas never had a formal education. He spoke of his time as a slave in order to rally the antislavery movement. Booker T. Washington was able acquire an education at Hampton institute by working many jobs to pay for it. He became a teacher; he spoke as a way to raise money and support for the education of African-Americans.

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.

Achieving African American Equality Booker T. Washington and W.E.B Du Bois were two of the most influential advocates for African American equality during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries (Blatty, 1). Although both men ultimately had the same goal, their methods for achieving African American equality were remarkably different. To begin, the men had conflicting ideas about what constituted as African American equality. Booker T. Washington argued that the accumulation of wealth and the ability to prove that Blacks were productive members of society would be the mark of true equality for African Americans (Painter, 155).

However Booker T. Washington believed in having a more skillful education, consisting of learning how to trade, mastering agriculture skills and more things one would need to get a job. However, W.E.B DuBois also put many efforts to achieve equal rights towards African Americans which Booker T Washington put on hold. Booker T Washington’s plan was to make it so that “Blacks would [have to] accept segregation and discrimination but their eventual acquisition of wealth and culture would gradually win for them the respect and acceptance of whites”. This vision that Booker T Washington had “practically accepts the alleged inferiority of the Negro race”. W.E.B commented on this process saying it was an attempt, “to educate black boys and girls simply as servants and underlings.”

Du Bois believes that Washington exhibits an old attitude of submission. Whereas Washington sees starting from the bottom as necessary and beneficial Du Bois sees it as submissive and harmful towards the progression of equality. Both Du Bois and Washington believed that their viewpoint was going to lead to more equal treatment and overall improved quality of life for African Americans. Both Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois had ideas on how to improve African American lives, Washington believed in starting at the bottom and working up whereas Du Bois had an opposing viewpoint he saw starting from the bottom as submissive and believed African Americans should hold important jobs in

W.E.B. Du Bois and Booker T. Washington were two great leaders of the black community in the late 19th and 20th century. They both had the same intent with their thought but they came from two different backgrounds so it was hard for them to have agreement. Booker T. Washington spent his early childhood in slavery. W. E. B. DuBois grew up both free and in the North. Ergo, he did not experience the harsh conditions of slavery or of southern prejudice he grew up with white Americans and even attended predominately white schools.

There are a few ways that Booker T. Washington and W. E. B. DuBois differ in their strivings for racial equality. The reason that these men differ in their views are pretty apparent and go back to the separate arguments that Jane Addams and Elizabeth Cady Stanton produced for women's rights in the 19th century. Jane Addams made some compromises in her push for women's suffrage to make her argument easier to swallow and take a small step towards equality. Stanton puts out her whole argument for total equality which made her argument hard for her generation to accept, but got all the problems on the table.

Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois. Prior to the riot, African Americans had listened to Washington’s advice. Washington believed that African Americans should be sublevel to whites and focus all their time working diligently and progressing in blue-collar society. This would allow whites to feel supreme, but also allow African Americans to make something of themselves and provide for their families. Washington wanted blacks to be educationally ready for the argument of equality.