In class, we discussed the works of many amazing authors. Two amazing authors, and great leaders as well, that stood out to me the most would be Booker T. Washington and W.E.B Dubois. You could easily compare the two when talking about themes such as post slavery and the reconstruction era. Although they advocated for the same causes, each author had their own views on the subject in itself. There were many points that they strongly disagreed on such as economics, behavior, identity, and education as well. The different philosophies mainly focused on ending racial injustice and the black community as a whole. Each African American leader had unique points of views on the lives and conditions of African Americans in that time and what should …show more content…
Unlike Washington, Dubois was born a free man and lived in the North in a predominately white area in an integrated community. He was very intelligent and excelled in the local schools he attended. However, it wasn’t until he attended Fisk University in Tennessee where he encountered his first issue dealing with racism and the Jim Crow laws. This experience is what shaped his ideas and philosophies on black people and their oppression. Dubois went back to the north to continue his education, focusing on the racial injustice and how to build equality for African Americans right then. After being the first black man to receive his PhD from Harvard University, he wrote his dissertation “The Suppression of the African Slave-Trade to the Unites States of America” which was one of his first academic works. Dubois was a powerful scholar and was headstrong as well. He believed that Washington’s idea would only help to continue the oppression of blacks from white people. Dubois advocated for a right now change. He created a civil rights agenda to work towards advocating equality for African Americans. He argued that Washington’s idea seemed “...well-nigh impossible…” (539). Dubois was an integrationist; he believed that there had to be a stand now, not later and that Washington’s philosophy was more of a submission to the oppression instead of a stand against it. Dubois’ call for change …show more content…
Both men agree that there needed to be a change. They wanted to racism in America to end and they both wanted education for the African American race. However, the lives that each leader went through and the obstacles along with opportunities shaped different views in the minds of both men. Washington being born into slavery still viewed the life of blacks through those eyes and Dubois being a freedman didn’t understand or agree with this view. He being free saw the world through a different lens not only because of his life as a free man but also through the education he received as well as an
Booker T. Washington and W. E. B. DuBoise. Booker T. Washington believed that blacks should not push to attain equal civil and political rights with whites. That it was best to concentrate on improving their economic skills and the quality of their character. The burden of improvement rests squarely on the shoulders of the black man.
After he concluded his study in Philadelphia, Du Bois accepted a teaching position at Atlanta University, where he taught economics, history, and sociology. While in Atlanta, Dubois published a many books, and wrote many essays. He concentrated his focus on the study of black social lives. He studied different topics that were issues in the black community. Topics like, black morality, urbanization, African American in business. He also looked into things like black church, and black crime, and the education of black people. In 1903, Dubois published his most famous book called The Souls of Black Folks. In that same year his influential essay “The Talented Tenth” was published in his book The Negro Problem. His essay “The Talented Tenth” Du Bois writes about how important it is for black men to become leaders of their race. That they can become leaders by continuing their education, writing books, or becoming involved in social change. The other book that he wrote also in 1903, called The Souls of Black Folks was very controversial because it criticized and scrutinized the philosophies of Booker T. Washington.
W.E.B. DuBois was an educator, writer, scholar, civil rights activist, Pan-Africanist, and later in his life a communist, whose life goal was to gain equal rights for all African Americans around the world. DuBois’ writings were mostly forgotten till the late 1960s, because of his involvement in communism and his absence during the civil rights movement in America. Even though his writings were temporarily forgotten because of his tarnished reputation, his legacy has since been restored allowing for his writings to be reprinted becoming a major influence for both academics and activists. DuBois’ accomplishments include his part in the creation of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and his support for the civil rights movement advocating for equal social and economic rights for all African Americans. His accomplishments and efforts in order to gain equal treatment for African Americans outweigh his shortcomings and failures.
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 ideas and views are the things that will be addressed in this essay.
WEB DuBois's Influence on Literature and People. In his work The Souls of Black Folk, web DuBois had described the life and problems that blacks in America are not easy. DuBois had a very different plan in the struggle for black equality and the struggle for the abolishment of racism than other people that wanted a "separate black" nation" and others that just wanted the blacks to stay submissive. DuBois only wanted blacks to work hard to become active parts of American society.
Just because the color of one’s race should not exemplify disgrace .W.E.B Dubois was born on february 23,1868 in Great Barrington,Massachusetts.1885 Dubois moved to Nashville tennessee and Attended Fisk University .Dubois encountered the Jim Crow laws.That was the 1st time he experienced racism against African Americans,That made him Want to study the troubles of African Americans. 1895 Dubois became the 1st African American to earn a p.h.d degree from Harvard University. 1905 Dubois was a founder and general secretary of the Niagara movement an African American protest group of scholars and professionals.1945 Dubois wrote the famous”An appeal to the world “ He
On the other hand, Booker T. Washington believed that blacks needed to be declared completely equal to whites in every way. He wanted immediate integration into all social institutions that were available to whites, including public education. Washington believed that this was the only way that equality could ultimately be achieved was to break down the social barriers between the races immediately and ...
This statement suggests that the quality of life for colored people in this time period is worse than being dead. It is implied by Dubois in this essay that not only would the white people be happier if the black people were all killed, but also that the black people would be happier due to them not having to face the hatred and segregation that they were subject to at the time. Dubois makes a sound argument that the white people in this time period have a problem with a black man making the same amount of money as them and getting the same education as them. They do not believe the black man is their equal. He uses the colored man in the essay to bring to light an extreme solution to the apparent problem, which in turn makes the white people, and the reader, open their eyes to the glaring issues inherent in racist behaviour and
Comparing W.E.B. DuBois and Booker T. Washington. W. E. B. -. Du Bois and Booker T. Washington had very different views about their culture and country. Du Bois, born in the North and studying in Europe, was fascinated with the idea of Socialism and Communism. Booker T. Washington, on the other hand, was born in the South, and like so many others, had a Black mother and a White father.
Dubois provides more details on the whole idea behind the thinking of this scholar and his vision for his people. Per this document, Washington’s speech seems to have shocked the nation to hear a Negro man encouraging his community to work together with the whites with goals of financial security. A first, many Negros struggled with supporting Booker’s vision of the black community not focusing on racial equality but working to gain financial freedoms but eventually it won “the admiration of the North and silenced the Negroes themselves.” Race relations amongst the blacks and whites were filled with a lot of tension which was all related to the little rights afforded to the blacks and the racial inequalities/injustices faced by blacks in
DuBois presents the question “[h]ow does it feel to be a problem?”, introducing the attitude towards African-Americans upon their emancipation (DuBois 3). The idea of freedom for slaves meant equality, but “the freedman has not yet found in freedom his promised land […] the shadow of a deep disappointment rests upon the Negro people” (6). The challenge faced during this time was how to deal with the now freed slaves who once had no rights. DuBois states that African-Americans merely wish “to make it possible for a man to be both a Negro and an American, without being cursed and spit upon by his fellows, without having the doors of Opportunity closed roughly i...
To understand the viewpoint of W.E.B Dubois and his argument for having a well-educated African American population, his own background and life experience of the struggle to be African and American must be considered. DuBois is born in the north in Massachusetts where the so-called Negro problem paralyzing the
Like Washington, Dubois agreed that “blacks” needed to become economically independent and find civil equality. However, W.E.B Dubois was offended at racial injustice and inequality. Du Bois understood Washington’s program, but believed this wasn’t the solution Unlike Washington, he demanded that African Americans should immediately have the right to vote, equal rights, and be granted equal educational opportunities. WEB Dubois wanted educational reform in a way that fulfilled requirements for African American students. WEB Du Bois declared African American demands through his “Declaration of the Principles of the Niagara Movement,” in which he demanded social equality.
In 1903 black leader and intellectual W.E.B. Du Bois wrote an essay in his collection The Souls of Black Folk with the title “Of Mr. Booker T. Washington and Others.” Both Washington and Du Bois were leaders of the black community in the 19th and 20th century, even though they both wanted to see the same outcome for black Americans, they disagreed on strategies to help achieve black social and economic progress. History shows that W.E.B Du Bois was correct in racial equality would only be achieved through politics and higher education of the African American youth.
DBQ Essay Washington and DuBois The battle for racial equality is one that will always be remembered in history. W.E.B DuBois and Booker T. Washington are two of the most significant African-American scholars of all time. Both men contributed to the equality of African American’s, and had a huge impact on Black education. Booker T. Washington used a passive solution to African American equality as well as civil rights. Washington’s approach would be beneficial to the future generation while DuBois’ aggressive solution would be beneficial as soon as initiated.