By exposing the racism in Southern society and proving the value of black citizens, the writings of Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. DuBois seek to establish a path to sanctuary for black citizens in a society where they had no control over their bodies or rights.
The lack of sanctuary for black Americans’ bodies is present in the memorabilia from the thousands of lynchings that occurred in the late 1800s and 1900s, and W.E.B. DuBois’ writing reflects the impact these lynchings had on many Americans, as well as how these lynchings violated the sanctuary American citizens were supposed to receive. According to a recent report on lynchings by the Equal Justice Initiative, at least 4075 lynchings of black people occurred during this period, and
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over 81 photos and postcards from these events are displayed on the website Without Sanctuary. The report also stated that “Third, our research confirms that many victims of terror lynchings were murdered without being accused of any crime; they were killed for minor social transgressions or for demanding basic rights and fair treatment,” (Equal Justice Initiative 5). The offenses that caused lynchings were often minor or even false accusations, as is the case of Sam Hose; Hose accidentally killed his boss, but was then accused of murder and raping his boss’ wife, for which he was lynched despite the claims being untrue. DuBois later wrote that Hose’s murder influenced his activism, and in his book The Souls of Black Folk, DuBois makes several statements that counter the culture that allows lynching. He states, “It is wrong to encourage a man or a people in evil-doing; it is wrong to aid and abet a national crime simply because it is unpopular not to do so,” (DuBois 1761). Although made during a discussion of racism in general, the statement repudiates a main factor that allowed lynchings: social acceptance. Pictures from Without Sanctuary show dead bodies surrounded by everyday people, including families, which reveals how normal and accepted lynchings were. Even if one did not support lynchings outright, many people would do nothing to stop them because of how popular they were, and DuBois’ writing debates this implicit acceptance by asserting that those who simply stood were complicit in the act of unjustly killing people.
The quote further suggests that the path to sanctuary for black Americans’ bodies is for those complicit with the evil to start speaking up and stop allowing such a crime to continue. DuBois’ more conservative counterpart, Booker T. Washington, also articulated the inequalities in the South, although he did so in a more conservative way. It is now known that Washington opposed Jim Crow laws and secretly funded civil rights court cases, but at the time his views could be found in his speech “Cotton States Exposition Address”. As most of his audience was white Southerners, Washington uses logic to make his point. He states, “One-third of the population of the South is of the Negro Race. No enterprise seeking the material, civil, or moral welfare of this section can disregard this element of our population and reach the highest success,” (Washington 1739-1740). Washington’s wording implies that because black people make up such a large percentage of the South’s population, any unfair or immoral treatment …show more content…
towards black citizens will have a negative impact on the entire South. Both DuBois and Washington recognized the unjust nature of lynchings, whether in public or private, and used their position to offer solutions to end the atrocity that cost so many innocent lives. Both men also recognized the lack of rights received by black Americans, and DuBois directly countered this inequality by responding to Washington’s “Cotton States Exposition Address”.
After Reconstruction, Democratic lawmakers attempted to regain power for white supremacists that was lost when black Americans were enfranchised. Although these lawmakers used tactics such as Jim Crow laws and poll taxes to restrict the rights of black citizens, some black activists, like Washington, argued that social and political equality should not be priorities. DuBois countered this opinion in The Souls of Black Folk when he states, “[Washington] insists on thrift and self-respect, but at the same time counsels a silent submission to civic inferiority such as is bond to sap the manhood of any race in the long run,” (DuBois 1759). DuBois’ statement relates a lack of social and political equality to inferiority, and suggests that Washington’s belief in economic equality first will leave black citizens in the same inferior position they have been trying to escape from. DuBois goes on to write, “We have no right to sit silently by while the inevitable seeds are sown for a harvest of disaster to our children, black and white,” (DuBois 1761). This quotation represents the view that the lack of rights of black Americans will be detrimental to the future of equality, and suggests that the only path to sanctuary for all people, not just black citizens, is to establish complete equality for all
citizens. Once again, Washington took the more conservative view and advocated for economic equality only. He states, “Our greatest danger is that in the great leap from slavery to freedom we may overlook the fact that the masses of us are to live by the productions of our hands and fail to keep in mind that we shall prosper in proportion as we learn to dignify and glorify common labour… as we learn to draw the line between the superficial and the substantial, the ornamental gewgaws and the useful,” (Washington 1740). Unlike DuBois, Washington portrays social and political equality as “ornamental gewgaws” that are not necessary to the success of black citizens. The quote asserts that complete equality would be too far of a leap, but economic equality would give black citizens the tools they need to success and later earn complete equality. However, Washington creates a more lucrative, albeit less progressive, argument that fits the audience of the Cotton States Exposition. He declares, “Nearly sixteen millions of hands will aid you in pulling the load upward or they will pull against you the load downward. We shall constitute one-third and more of the ignorance and crime of the South, or one-third or more of its intelligence and progress,” (Washington 1741). This quotation furthers his argument to suggest that, although complete equality is not necessary, economic equality will lead to positive benefits for everyone. Alternatively, he also suggests the failure of black citizens to achieve economic equality would only “pull down” this South, which creates a logical argument for economic equality. While the two activists offer different solutions to the lack of sanctuary for the rights of black Americans, both “Cotton States Exposition Address” and The Souls of Black Folk recognize the need for equality to improve the lives of all citizens.
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.
he expressed in the following quote from “The Case of the Negro”; “…the idea should not be to
After the Civil War, African Americans encountered great discrimination and suffering. During this era, two influential leaders emerged from different philosophical camps. Brooker T. Washington of Virginia and William Edward Burghardt Dubois of Massachusetts proposed, different means to improve African Americans’ conditions. These men had a common goal: to enrich the black community. However, the methods they advocated to reach these goals significantly differed.
Along with his arguments of mental inferiority, Jefferson argues that blacks concede their inferiority through their submissiveness to the slave owners. This argument is met by Walkers’ appeal to the people for action. He states that, “unless we try to refute Mr. Jefferson’s arguments respecting us, we will only establish them” (Walker 18). It is an urgent call for action that urges not only blacks but other abolitionist, to stand up and fight against the stereotypes. He calls for black people to stop being submissive and to stand up for their rights. He also calls on blacks to not allow their oppression to hinder them from attaining as much knowledge as is reachable given their circumstances. He uses Jefferson’s demeaning statements to incite black people to rise up against the injustices being done to them. Through his derogatory statements towards black people, Jefferson, the champion of equality, is inadvertently giving Walker a means to inflame the fight in black people.
Two of the most influential people in shaping the social and political agenda of African Americans were Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Dubois, both early twentieth century writers. While many of their goals were the same, the two men approached the problems facing African Americans in very different ways. This page is designed to show how these two distinct thinkers and writers shaped one movement, as well as political debate for years afterward.
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.
While DuBois respected Booker T. Washington and his accomplishments, he did not. felt that blacks needed political power to protect what they had and what they earned. DuBois called for a new plan of action. He felt that the The greatest enemy of blacks was not necessarily whites but it was the ignorance of the whites concerning the capabilities of the black race. DuBois's answer was to encourage the development of black youth in America.
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
Both Washington and DuBois wanted the same thing for blacks—first-class citizenship—but their methods for obtaining it differed. Because of the interest in immediate goals contained in Washington’s economic approach, whites did not realize that he anticipated the complete acceptance and integration of Negroes into American life. He believed blacks, starting with so little, would have to begin at the bottom and work up gradually to achieve positions of power and responsibility before they could demand equal citizenship—even if it meant temporarily assuming a position of inferiority. DuBois understood Washington’s program, but believed that it was not the solution to the “race problem.” Blacks should study the liberal arts, and have the same rights as white citizens. Blacks, DuBois believed, should not have to sacrifice their constitutional rights in order to achieve a status that was already guaranteed.
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
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
The mental impact on family members of a lynching victim is life altering. Often being responsible for the retrieval of the body, families saw the representation of white hatred for them and their family members embodied in their corpse (Lee H. Butler). More than 2,805 families have endured this atrocious mental impact, because there were 2,805 documented lynchings from 1882 to 1930 (Braziel). That number does not take into account the lynchings that transpired after 1930, and outside of the ten categorically Southern states in the records.... ...
Lewis’s viewpoint is not without it’s truths. The Harlem renaissance was overseen by a number of intellectuals such as Booker T. Washington, Marcus Garvey, and W.E.B. Dubois. Booker T. Washington‘s, a highly influential speaker of the age, words appealed to both Caucasians and African-Americans. Washington forged an interracial bridge of communication through his unique tactics in the quest for equality. He believed in more subtle ways of gaining equality through hard work, cunning, and humility. He stated, “The wisest among my race understands that the agitation of questions of social equality is the extremist folly, and that progress in the enjoyment of all the privileges that will come to us must be the result of severe and constant struggle rather than of artificial forcing.”(Salley, 15) With this statement, Washington himself denies that this new awakening in equality and arts could be forced,...
One of the most appalling practices in history, lynching — the extrajudicial hanging of a person accused of a crime — was commonplace in American society less than 100 years ago. The word often conjures up horrifying images of African Americans hanging from lampposts or trees. However, what many do not know is that while African Americans certainly suffered enormously at the hands of a white majority, they were not the only victims of this practice. In fact, the victims of the largest mass lynching in American history were Chinese (Johnson). On October 24th, 1871, a white mob stormed into the Chinatown of Los Angeles.
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...