For centuries slavery had been a problem in many countries but especially in the United States of America since it was known as “the land of the free”. Slavery mostly targeted people of color, African Americans. These African Americans were being sold to white males and were forced to work and do whatever they say. Slaves did not have their own home, they did not have a voice. Slaves were not allowed education so they were mostly illiterate. After many, many years and presidents later, slavery was abolished in the south and in the north. Although African Americans were now considered “free” it was still the opposite of that. Two African American men, Booker T. Washington and W.E.B Du Bois wrote autobiographies explaining their views and their …show more content…
He required the students to care for the domestic and agricultural needs of the school, not only that but to build their own buildings. During the process of building the buildings they realized that they needed bricks which was a problem because nowhere in Tuskegee bricks were sold. The only solution was to make their own which required hard work. In order to do this a Kiln was needed, they failed three times and had run out of kilns to experiment on. This became a problem because if there was no kilns, there was no bricks. Washington then realized he could pawn a watch he was once given, he received Fifteen dollars and bought a new kiln. This last kiln was a success, they were able to work diligently and make twelve hundred thousand quality bricks. Bricks began to revolution the community and the white community began to respect the educated African Americans and begin to see them as equals. In the second sentence of chapter ten, Washington states, “ My plan was to have them, while performing this service, taught the latest and best methods of labour, so that the school would not only get the benefit of their …show more content…
Du Bois believed that after the abolishment of slavery the African Americans were entitled to their rights as people, but that was not the case. Obstacles such as the poll tax and Grandfather clause got in the way of their rights. The poll tax meant that in order to vote you needed to pay a tax in which most of the time was too high for the African Americans. The Grandfather clause meant that if your grandfather was able to vote then so were you. Tests were also issued to the people that wanted to vote, it would determine if you could read and comprehend. Easier tests were given to the whites and more difficult tests were given to people of color just so they would not be able to pass. With all of these things standing in the way of equality for people of color, it is easy to see why Du Bois wanted equality right away. Du Bois also wrote an autobiography, “The Souls Of Black Folk” and in chapter three, “Of Mr. Booker T. Washington and Others” he talks about exactly how he felt on the process of gaining their civil rights. Du Bois states “In answer to this, it has been claimed that the Negro can survive only through submission.” With this he is saying that people of color will only be able to have rights if they give up to the whites. He is saying this because in Washington’s plan, Washington asks the African Americans to give up three things, political power, their civil rights, and their higher education. Du Bois
What is the point of educating the African Americans if all they will be is paid slaves anyhow?, “Lo! we are diseased and dying, cried the dark hosts; we cannot write, our voting is vain; what need of education, since we must always cook and serve?” (par. 11). Du Bois doesn’t understand the issue with African Americans living among, equal to, and determined with the Whites, “Will America be poorer if she replace her brutal dyspeptic blundering with light-hearted but determined Negro humility? or her coarse and cruel wit with loving jovial good-humor? or her vulgar music with the soul of the Sorrow Songs” (par. 12). Du Bois and the African American population are determined to change the mindset of the Whites and America as a whole to be more accepting of African Americans and ultimately
W.E.B Du Bois strategy can be evaluated as ceaseless agitation as stated in The Niagara Movement "If we expect to gain our rights by nerveless acquiescence in wrong, then we expect to do what no other nation ever did. What must we do then? We must complain. Yes, plain, blunt complain, ceaseless agitation, unfailing exposure of dishonesty and wrong- this is the ancient, unerring way to liberty, and we must follow it." For this time period, this strategy is inefficient because he only thought about a small percentage of the Black race. As like Washington, he to wanted them to go to top colleges, get a great education, and in some way he thought that they were going to become the intelligence whole Black nation.
Washington wanted to ensure the white race that education of colored individuals would not lead to a decrease in domestic services, as this was one of the main fears presented throughout. The beginning of the Institute started with only Washington as the teacher, and thirty students (Washington 58). While the Tuskegee Institute did an excellent job in developing students minds and reading abilities, Washington wanted to also teach his students practical life skills. Understanding that his students came from homes with little opportunities, Washington made it a priority to teach students how to care for their themselves. Students were taught how to bathe, care for their teeth, wash their clothing, and even what to eat and how to eat properly (Washington 61). Along with these basic skills, students were taught in a way so they could both become teachers and return to the plantation districts (Washington 61). Rather than simply studying books, students engaged in labor and physically saw what it meant to pave one’s own way. Washington wanted to implement a set of agricultural skills that would allow students to gain a new set of ideas and energy that could improve the industry. Soon after Washington found a new location to move his growing school, students were in charge of completing all the chores needed to successfully move to the farm. While
Du Bois, was the competing ideology at the time. Du Bois rose to prominence and became a great African-American leader in his own right around the time Washington was at his peak. Du Bois respected Washington but largely disagreed with his vision of black society and progression. Du Bois was a leader in several radical (at the time) organizations such as the Conference of Negro Problems and the Niagara Movement. (Lecture 9/27). With a background steeped in education, Du Bois also has a significantly different up-bringing than Washington. In part, this may explain some of the differences in their ideologies. In his book, The Souls of Black Folk, Du Bois addresses Washington and his vision directly. Although Du Bois recognizes Washington’s successes and the caution in which Washington has had to employ in the South, Du Bois is still critical of him. “But aside from this, there is among educated and thoughtful colored men in all parts of the land a feeling of deep regret, sorrow, and apprehension at the wide currency and ascendency which some of Mr. Washington’s theories have gained.” (Du Bois, Souls of Black Folk, pg.36). Washington’s Atlanta Compromise received acclaim but the submissive tone and ideology is what Du Bois is critical of. This quote expresses the emotions felt by not just Du Bois but other educated black men and women throughout the country realizing the errors made in the speech. The acclaim the speech received is also an issue here
Considering the time, I would have been a Du Bois supporter. Washington’s passive patient approach wouldn’t have satisfied me. Blacks had been oppressed for quite some time and wanted to see change immediately. I’m sure the last thing they wanted to hear was that they should continue doing manual labor, being submissive to Whites, and wait for change. However, Washington was very clever in his “Atlanta Compromise” speech to compare the thirsty sailors in the tale of a lost ship to Blacks as a way of persuading them to better their conditions. Quite the opposite, Du Bois’s character and approach was more in line with my personality. I am a person who likes to see quick results or at least some signs of change along the way to completing my goal. Again, Blacks had been patient long enough. It was time to fight back, and the way to do it was through higher education and the demand for equal rights. Du Bois said it best, “The problem of the twentieth century is the problem of the color
Slavery is the idea and practice that one person is inferior to another. What made the institution of slavery in America significantly different from previous institutions was that “slavery developed as an institution based upon race.” Slavery based upon race is what made slavery an issue within the United States, in fact, it was a race issue. In addition, “to know whether certain men possessed natural rights one had only to inquire whether they were human beings.” Slaves were not even viewed as human beings; instead, they were dehumanized and were viewed as property or animals. During this era of slavery in the New World, many African slaves would prefer to die than live a life of forced servitude to the white man. Moreover, the problem of slavery was that an African born in the United States never knew what freedom was. According to Winthrop D. Jordan, “the concept of Negro slavery there was neither borrowed from foreigners, nor extracted from books, nor invented out of whole cloth, nor extrapolated from servitude, nor generated by English reaction to Negroes as such, nor necessitated by the exigencies of the New World. Not any one of these made the Negro a slave, but all.” American colonists fought a long and bloody war for independence that both white men and black men fought together, but it only seemed to serve the white man’s independence to continue their complete dominance over the African slave. The white man must carry a heavy
Slavery was a problem that had been solved by the end of the Civil War . Slavery abused black people and forced them to work. The Northerners didn’t like this and constantly criticized Southerners causing a fight. On January 1, 1863 the Emancipation Proclamation was signed by Lincoln to free all the slaves in the border states . “...All persons held as slaves within said designated states, and parts of States, are, and henceforward shall be free…” (Lincoln 1862). In 1865, the Thirteenth Amendment was passed which abolished slavery (Thirteenth Amendment 1865).
I want to start with the history of slavery in America. For most African Americans, the journey America began with African ancestors that were kidnapped and forced into slavery. In America, this event was first recorded in 1619. The first documented African slaves that were brought to America were through Jamestown, Virginia. This is historically considered as the Colonial America. In Colonial America, African slaves were held as indentured servants. At this time, the African slaves were released from slavery after a certain number of years of being held in captivity. This period lasted until 1776, when history records the beginning of the Middle Passage. The Middle Passage showed the increased of African slaves were bought into America. The increase demand for slaves was because of the increased production of cotton in the south. So, plantation owners demanded more African slaves for purchas...
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.
Du Bois had a very militant approach to the problem with discrimination against black people. Du Bois campaigned for equal rights rather than attempting to earn them, and felt that a direct approach would be the best way to gain equality for black people. Du Bois’ book The Souls of Black Folk contains the following quote: “The power of the ballot we need in sheer defense, else what shall save us from a second slavery?” (Du Bois 1). This quote shows Du Bois felt there was an urgent need to attain the rights necessary to protect the black community, and that acquiring the right to vote would help ensure their protection. Du Bois also wanted to change the environment for black people, and he did so through agitation and protest. Du Bois disagreed with Washington and felt that submitting to the white people was wrong and would not get them the rights they need to ensure
Du Bois was a scholar activist who proposed lots of solutions for the issue of racism and discrimination. Du Bois was sort of an opposition to Washington’s ideology, as he strongly believes that it can only help to disseminate white’s oppression towards blacks. We can see his dissatisfaction based on his writing with a title On Booker T. Washington and Others. He wrote that Washington’s philosophy was really not a good idea because the white extremists from the south will perceived this idea as blacks’ complete surrender for the request of civil rights and political equality. Du Bois had a different view on this issue if compared to Washington because of their different early lifestyles. Unlike Washington, Du Bois was born free in the North and he did not receive any harsh experienced as a slave himself and was also grew up in a predominantly white area. In his writings, it is obvious that he thought that the most important thing that the black should gain was to have the equality with whites. Regarding the issue of the voting rights, Du Bois strongly believed that it is important for black people to agitate to get the right to vote. He also believed that the disfranchisement of poor men could mean the catastrophe of South’s democracy (Painter 157). In his writing with a title Of Our Spiritual Strivings, he wrote that it was significant for blacks to exercise the right to vote because there were whites that wanted to put them back in their inferior position—and it was
“It should come as no surprise that Washington’s historical conflict culminated as a struggle between him and DuBois” (Gibson III 66). To say the least, both men were very active in the upbringing of African-Americans, but their differences in displaying out the solution was what brought them apart. Washington wanted the education system to enforce industrial teachings that started at lower economic power, while DuBois had more abstract ideas of equality and voting for African-Americans. Washington was conservative in the matter of African-American inclusion into society, hoping that given enough time and progress, people would learn to accept them, rather than fight for social power like what DuBois stood for. Despite Washington’s program that appealed to White-Americans, he was involved in politics and spoke about the disfranchisement of African-Americans. His idea of easing tensions with the superior gathered him more publicity, as to DuBois’s plan of protesting. As a result, DuBois’s idea became more prominent as it branches into what we know now as the civil rights movement. Historically, Washington and DuBois has made a name for themselves, through their intentions for the good will of African-Americans, and that is something that will always hold true in these two notorious
middle of paper ... ... Du Bois gave all the power to the blacks, and he didn’t rely on whites who had political power to make the change. Washington, on the other hand, took a backseat approach when it came to equality for blacks. He didn’t push for any kind of political rights for blacks, and was satisfied with ‘equal’ economic opportunities, in fact, he was opposed to blacks getting involved in politics. Du Bois took a much more radical approach and demanded that blacks be included in the political sphere.
Du Bois demonstrates to the reader the representation Washington constructs to the Black folk. The concept that reasons Washington methods was because he became “comfortable” with the racial discrimination against his own people. He expresses the Washington use this as an advantage to promote his aspect of economic development, while overlooking the idea for Blacks to aim higher. Du Bois continues to express what he considers Washington intentions for African Americans are to succeed in this society.
Washington 's programme naturally takes an economic cast” (Du Bois). Du Bois believed that Washington’s theory was a gospel of Work and Money that ultimately overshadowed the higher aims of life” Later he makes another statement so powerful that should have made all African Americans want to stand up and fight for a better social status and rights for both the South and North. He goes on stating “The growing spirit of kindliness and reconciliation between the North and South after the frightful differences of a generation ago ought to be a source of deep congratulation to all, and especially to those whose mistreatment caused the war; but if that reconciliation is to be marked by the industrial slavery and civic death of those same black men, with permanent legislation into a position of inferiority, then those black men, if they are really men, are called upon by every consideration of patriotism and loyalty to oppose such a course by all civilized methods, even though such opposition involves disagreement with Mr. Booker T. Washington.” (Du