Similarities Between Booker T. Washington And W. E. B. Dubois

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Of the many African American writers that we have studied throughout the semester I would like to focus on Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Dubois. Both of the literary works of these two men had huge impacts on the African-American culture as well as mainstream white American culture. Booker T. Washington advocated for accepting the established system and assimilating the African-community into the white. On the other hand, W.E.B Dubois appreciated Booker T. Washington’s efforts towards becoming one with the mainstream white culture, but Dubois believed that it was the African-American’s duty to not compromise the basic equalities that the entire black community should relentlessly fight to possess. Both of these African-American leaders accomplished …show more content…

Washington called out to all of the southern black community, this call was aimed at achieving integration of blacks into white mainstream culture. Something that I disagree with, but was a good first step for the African-American’s was to compromise with the white leaders of American in order to receive basic things such as education. What the whites received positively was the fact that instead of hiring immigrants they can use the roughly one-third of the southern populous for these jobs. He believed that “In all things social we can be as separate as the fingers, yet on as the hand in all things essential to mutual progress” (Washington 182). In other words, his logic was for the black culture to take a baby step into mainstream white culture. Its as if he didn’t think African American’s were fully ready take leadership within society. If that wasn’t the case, he just may have not thought it possible. Instead, he praised the black mans loyalty to the white man, he thought that the African-American’s purpose within this country to was be submissive to the white …show more content…

Ultimately, Washington caused more problems for black people within America than he did any good. Yes, he did in fact bring the black and whites of this country together but kept them stratified at the same time. This puts Booker T. Washington in to two categories; he is in therefore both the protagonist as well as antagonist for African American equality. That being said, he is seen as someone to can be looked up to by the black culture. He is someone who did in fact come from so little and make the most of himself that he could. Washington was search of improving what the black experience from his point of view. At the same time, he can be put at fault for bowing down to the prejudices that left blacks and whites

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