W.E.B. Du Bois and Booker T. Washington

1226 Words3 Pages

W.E.B. Du Bois and Booker T. Washington were two very influential leaders in the black community during the late 19th century, early 20th century. However, they both had different views on improvement of social and economic standing for blacks. Booker T. Washington, an ex-slave, put into practice his educational ideas at Tuskegee, which opened in 1881. Washington stressed patience, manual training, and hard work. He believed that blacks should go to school, learn skills, and work their way up the ladder. Washington also urged blacks to accept racial discrimination for the time being, and once they worked their way up, they would gain the respect of whites and be fully accepted as citizens. W.E.B. Du Bois on the other hand, wanted a more aggressive strategy. He studied at Fisk University in Tennessee and the University of Berlin before he went on to study at Harvard. He then took a low paying research job at the University of Pennsylvania, using a new discipline of sociology which emphasized factual observation in the field to study the condition of blacks. The first study of the effect of urban life on blacks, it cited a wealth of statistics, all suggesting that crime in the ward stemmed not from inborn degeneracy but from the environment in which blacks lived. Change the environment, and people would change too; education was a good way to go about it. The different strategies offered by W.E.B. Du Bois and Booker T. Washington in dealing with the problems of poverty and discrimination faced by Black Americans were education, developing economic skills, and insisting on things continually such as the right to vote. ... ... middle of paper ... ...whites will “see the light” (Doc. F). While women and African Americans worked in growing numbers, much of the huge increase in the labor force in these years came from outside the country, particularly from Europe and Mexico. Between 1901 and 1920, the extraordinarily high total of 14.5 million immigrants entered the country, more than in any previous twenty-year period. In summation, the different strategies for dealing with the problems of poverty and discrimination faced by Black Americans were to get a good education, advance in economic/industrial skills, and have their voices heard in the white community.

Show More
Related

  • Langston Hughes And James Weldon Johnson

    65 Words  | 1 Pages

    James Langston Hughes and James Weldon Johnson, two phenomenal authors of poetry and other forms of writing. They have both written songs for plays, novels on Black writers and poets, and stunning works of poetry. Hughes, however, seems to have had more of an influence on America, having published more novels before his death.

    Read More

  • Booker T. Washington vs. W.E.B. Dubois

    1164 Words  | 3 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Booker T. Washington vs W.E.B. DuBois

    1392 Words  | 3 Pages

    In this essay you will read about numerous similarities as well as differences between these two gentlemen. Their names are Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. DuBois. But before I explain the differences between these two gentlemen, I will give you a more in depth background on each of them. This information that I will provide for you will give you a clearer thought on how they were raised and their beliefs.

    Read More

  • Martin Luther King Jr. and Frederick Douglass

    1394 Words  | 3 Pages

    When comparing two essays, there are many different aspects that the reader can look at to make judgments and opinions. In the two essays that I choose, MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. 'Letter from Birmingham Jail', and FREDERICK DOUGLAS'S 'From Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave,' there were many similarities, but also many differences. Some of them being, the context, style, structure and tone. Many times when readings or articles are being compared, people over look the grammatical and structural elements, and just concentrate on the issues at hand. I believe it is important to evaluate both.

    Read More

  • Similarities Between Booker T. Washington And Jane Addams

    1541 Words  | 4 Pages

    Throughout the history of the United States, there have been individuals who have sought out to better society and develop solutions for social and economic problems. In all communities, there are clear distinctions between the privileged and poor. Many times these less fortunate individuals fail to rise up in the world because of the few opportunities they are given. Despite this, some individuals become empowered and impassioned by the hardships seen and have a yearning to create the change needed for the betterment of society. Two leading historical examples of such individuals include Booker T. Washington and Jane Addams. Booker T. Washington had established the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama, a school for colored people where a heavy emphasis

    Read More

  • Summary Of Booker T. Washington And W. E. B. Du Bios

    980 Words  | 2 Pages

    Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bios were two prominent African male leaders and activists fighting for civil rights for the African-American community, but they had quite different and opposing strategies and philosophies. Washington’s strategy and philosophy were milder and aimed at making progressive changes step by step despite the fact that self-promotion and self-empowerment seemed to be the priority to him and on the contrast, Du Bios’s strategy and philosophy were more radical. Washington was an intelligent and sophisticated person, and he saw the problem that the newly “freed” black people by law to some extent were not truely freed and did not meet the American standard in many aspects such as they were not equipped with enough education, still financially depended on white people, and had no

    Read More

  • Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, Jr.

    1478 Words  | 3 Pages

    Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, Jr. African Americans are fortunate to have leaders who have fought for a difference in Black America. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X are two powerful men in particular who brought hope to blacks in the United States. Both preached the same message about Blacks having power and strength in the midst of all the hatred that surrounded them. Even though they shared the same dream of equality for their people, the tactics they implied to make these dreams a reality were very different. The background, environment and philosophy of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X were largely responsible for the distinctly varying responses to American racism.

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast Washington And W. E. B. Dubois

    420 Words  | 1 Pages

    Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois were men who made powerful strides in the advancement African-Americans. Washington and Du Bois took different approaches to fighting racial segregation. Washington took a quieter and more peaceful approach while Du Bois took the aggressive (not violent) and louder approach. “Washington counseled African-Americans to work hard, acquire property, and prove they were worthy of respect” (613). Washington thought that if blacks became educated they could work along side whites. Blacks would still be “separate as the fingers, yet one as the hand...” (613). Du Bois disagreed with Washington’s approach. Du Bois felt that blacks must fight for their rights. He felt that they must voice their opinion to get anywhere in this difficult battle over racial rights.

    Read More

  • Comparison Of Booker T. Washington And W. E. B. Dubois

    661 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the late 1800s into the early 1900s, two of the major leaders in the African American community were Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois. One of the main ideas that both men often expounded upon was that of education in the African American community. However, both men believed in two separate forms of education to help advance the community, Du Bois supported the idea of liberal education, while Washington supported vocational education (Lewis, 2014, 189). This would prove to cause of rift between the two, and lead to Du Bois heavily criticizing Washington for his ideas.

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast Book T Washington And Booker T. Dubois

    1522 Words  | 4 Pages

    Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois are two incredibly famous civil rights activists in United States history. Although they both sought to uplift blacks socially and economically across the country, they clashed over the best strategy for doing so. Coming from vastly different backgrounds, it’s understandable as to why they disagreed. However, as is evident by our current societal problems, Du Bois was the one who had the correct plan. That doesn’t mean that Washington’s ideas were wrong, but they were a temporary solution to a permanent and systematic problem.

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast Washington And Dubois

    544 Words  | 2 Pages

    After reading about both Washington and Du Bois, I found out just how different the both of them were and how much their opinions differed from one another. First, Booker T. Washington’s argument was about working now and worry later. He was an educator and no one devoted more time towards race relations in America than he did (Levine 447). He was an influential black leader during his time. He delivered a speech that is known as the “Atlanta Compromise” and it was about the significance of self-help and racial uniformity (447). He pushed the blacks to not let the discrimination bother them and focus on bettering themselves through hard work. “His writings argue that success should be measured not so much by the position a person has reached as by the obstacles overcome while trying to succeed” (448). Washington believed in education, mechanical and farming skills, and economics. Agriculture was Washington’s most important theory that he proposed. He believed in the virtues of patience,

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast Washington And W. E. B. Dubois

    1057 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Similarities and Differences of Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. DuBois’s Views During the late 19th and early 20th century, racial injustice was very prominent and even wildly accepted in the South. Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. DuBois were two of the most renowned “pioneers in the [search] for African-American equality in America” (Washington, DuBois, and the Black Future). Washington was “born a slave” who highly believed in the concept of “separate but equal,” meaning that “we can be as [distant] as the fingers, yet one as the hand in all things essential to mutual progress” (Washington 1042). DuBois was a victim of many “racial problems before his years as a student” and disagreed with Washington’s point of view, which led

    Read More

  • Informative Essay On Booker T Washington

    887 Words  | 2 Pages

    He began taking a stand by coming up with a simple program idea, that would definitely work according to him. He started to come out with more speeches as well to support his ideas, for example. A speech was presented by Booker in 1895 which publicly announced his philosophy on race relations(Editors 2015). Booker T. Washington advocated education for all of the negro race, but mainly in African American children since they have their entire lives ahead of them. He was just as determined to find an answer to black people’s prayers as we was about learning himself. With all of this planning and listing problems, Tuskegee Institute was finally created. The first school established in Tuskegee, Alabama which was created in 1881(The Awakening of the Negro). This changed Booker’s ideas from a by-path to a veritable way of life which allowed everyone to become

    Read More

  • Booker T Washington Impact On African American Education

    1284 Words  | 3 Pages

    Washington uses a coaching style approach regarding his process of getting his fellow African Americans to enroll in schools and pursue a higher education. Washington embraces the path-goal theory supportive leader behavior perfectly by leading them down a path with the end goal being beneficial to all those who follow it. He motivates his followers by ensuring them that if they work hard and receive a proper education that they will be free from the chains of ignorance and stereotypes that black men and women are only good for manual labor. Although he received mixed reviews at first, people eventually listened and followed his philosophy and sought out higher education. This was very successful as the percentage of African Americans and other minority groups enrolling and graduating college is still increasing. The way Booker T. Washington used Transformational Leadership was by taking a stand and speaking up about the inequality African Americans were enduring regarding education and receiving fewer opportunities than white people. He did not know how far his speeches and philosophy would go, but he knew he had to try something to improve the situation for his people. Washington stated, “…I plead for industrial education and development for the Negro not because I want to cramp him, but because I want to free him.” With this quote we understand his vision as he challenges African Americans to get their education

    Read More

  • Up From Slavery Book Report

    1215 Words  | 3 Pages

    This book was about Booker T Washington who was a slave on a plantation in Virginia until he was nine years old. His autobiography offers readers a look into his life as a young child. Simple pleasures, such as eating with a fork, sleeping in a bed, and wearing comfortable clothing, were unavailable to Washington and his family. His brief glimpses into a schoolhouse were all it took to make him long for a chance to study and learn. Readers will enjoy the straightforward and strong voice Washington uses to tell his story. The book document his childhood as a slave and his efforts to get an education, and he directly credits his education with his later success as a man of action in his community and the nation. Washington details his transition from student to teacher, and outlines his own development as an educator and founder of the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama. He tells the story of Tuskegee's growth, from classes held in a shantytown to a campus with many new buildings. In the final chapters of, it Washington describes his career as a public speaker and civil rights activist. Washington includes the address he gave at the Atlanta Cotton States and International Exposition in 1895, which made him a national figure. He concludes his autobiography with an account of several recognitions he has received for his work, including an honorary degree from Harvard, and two significant visits to Tuskegee, one by President McKinley and another by General Samuel C. Armstrong. During his lifetime, Booker T. Washington was a national leader for the betterment of African Americans in the post-Reconstruction South. He advocated for economic and industrial improvement of Blacks while accommodating Whites on voting rights and social equality.

    Read More

More about W.E.B. Du Bois and Booker T. Washington

Open Document