W.E.B. Du Bois’ political views were that he was once a leader of the opposing side of the early civil rights movement. DuBois was born free and had a lot of educational opportunities that Booker T. Washington did not have. “Du Bois felt that Booker T. Washington’s plan to gain equality was only going to broaden and aggravate the cruelty of African-American’s in the United States and more specially in the South.” Rather choosing a plan of accommodation, Du Bois would rather favor a plan with political action. DuBois believed that African Americans had to speak clear on the weaknesses that they were held to in the United States. DuBois had very specific ideas of what he thought the African American’s needed to achieve in order to gain equality. …show more content…
For these ideas to have effect on African Americans, W.E.B. Du Bois started helping with the beginning of the NAACP. He was, “for more than fifty years a passionate fighter for full civil rights and equality of citizenship for the Negro.” Du Bois wanted to teach America that black people were not inferior to white people because of their race. After many years of leadership in the civil rights movement, Du Bois got frustrated with the progress of it, so in the early 1950s, he decided to start devoting his time and his attention to many world movements, but most important was the promotion of socialism and maybe one day communism. Booker T.
Washington believed that if African Americans focused their attention on striving economically, they would eventually be given the rights that they were owed. Washington encouraged blacks to attend trade schools, “where they could learn to work with industrially or agriculturally.” In Atlanta, Washington stated, “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 the proportion as we learn to dignify and glorify common labor, and put brains and skill into the common occupations of life.” Washington had suggestion was something that the Negro race were familiar with. Most southern and northern whites had accepted the fact that his plan was acknowledged by the subordination of the black race. “Washington made a point that we as African Americans can achieve the rights we want if we present ourselves useful to the white race.” Washington states, “No race that has anything to contribute to the markets of the world is long in any degree shunned.” Washington said that “befriending a white man was imperative to ending a black man’s struggle, and to those of my race who depend on bettering their condition in a foreign land, or who underestimate the importance of cultivating friendly relations with the Southern white man who is their next-door neighbor,” “cast down your bucket for the people of all the races by whom we are surrounded.” This was the first time that a black man had ever spoken in front of many white people. It was shown that some African Americans were not on agreeing terms with Washington’s idea that this was also a sign of “submission for the black race.” With this, lied a conflict that when Washington send the message to African Americans saying that if they were going to come up, they would have to continue to use their hands as a means to be productive in white society. Having this
statement fall so heavy on some of the African Americans, they realized that they were not all on board with Booker T. Washington’s view on things, and they had figured out that if the only way to fit into society was to be seen as a failure, then they were going to start supporting a new leader. Booker T. Washington once said, “I have learned that success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed.” To me, this quote speaks the words that people are afraid to say to other people, and no matter what you do in life there is always a purpose and that no matter what way you chose, being educated, uneducated, from helping people to only caring about yourself, there is always something in life that you will need to be proud of when succeeding that part of your life, and to never feel like you’ve failed.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Booker T. Washington was an African American leader who established an African-American college in 1181. Then in 1895 delivered the Atlanta Compromise Speech to an audience of mainly Southerners, but some Northerners were present. In his speech he made a few points. He said, “No race can prosper till it learns that there is as much dignity in tilling a field as in writing a poem.” Washington believed that the African American race needed to learn first that manual labor was just as important as the work of intellects. He thought that until they learned this they were not worthy of becoming intellects themselves. The color line is thus important in teaching them this lesson. He also said, “It is important and right that all privileges of the law be ours, but it is vastly more important that we be prepared for the exercise of these privileges.” His opinion was that one day blacks would deserve to have equal rights with the whites, but right now in 1895 the blacks needed to be...
submissive. The snare of the snare. Washington wanted blacks to try and get along with society. trying to fit in. He was encouraging blacks to become educated in the the "white man's world".
“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.
...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. He also envisioned blacks receiving higher education so they could compete in a fast-growing economy, instead of being stuck with dead-end jobs such as plumbers, and house maids, that Washington so strongly advocated for. And today, Du Bois is clearly the more celebrated figure of the two. More African-American political leaders, such as Obama, reference him in their speeches, and it is much easier to find a poster or book on W.E.B Du Bois than it is on Booker T. Washington. Du Bois’ vision had a much nobler goal, he was not satisfied with the injustice that was going on, and he did something about it.
Women should not have the chance for an academic education. They should be trained to cook, clean, and take care of children. What better way would a woman help society? Would she help her neighbor more by teaching them mathematics they will never use or by helping their neighbor raise children? This is similar to what Booker T. Washington claimed about African Americans. He stated that the African Americans should attend vocational schools rather than receive an academic education so they could better further social change. W.E.B DuBois had a different approach to further social change by stating that some African Americans should go to academic schools, while others had trades, and some were considered fools who cannot learn. I believe that all children have the ability to learn whether they are black, brown, honeysuckle, or blue. Children all learn in different ways and in order to teach all children we must discover what way each child learns best. John and Evelyn Dewey demonstrate learn by doing and say that is the best approach to learning. I believe they are correct in some aspects. I will attempt to explain my philosophy on the best way to teach all children regardless of race or gender.
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
Booker T Washington's strategy applied in The Atlanta Compromise Address would be to say that he wanted all Black Americans to learn trades and would like for them to pass on those skills, and use those skills so their families could have a better life and probably even a better education. Become united with one another, become part of the industry, become someone, and show what you are. "Cast down your bucket where you are while doing this you can be sure in the future, as in the past, that you and your families will be surrounded by the most patient, faithful, law-abiding, and un resentful people that the world has seen." He's showing that when you are taught a specific trade and teach it to your families, they can in turn be successful and live better lives and be unionized with the whites. If you "cast down your bucket" to the Black people they are no longer going to be the same because they are going to change. The Blacks will make an effort to succeed in life. And they only hope for peace with the white folks and make a higher good for one another. (D)
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
In his speech, Washington addresses both whites and blacks. “I would say cast down your bucket where you are, cast it down in making friends in every manly way of the people of all races by whom we are surrounded.” (Washington, Atlanta Compromise, pg.2). This quote is a good indicator of Washington’s ideology on black progression in American society. Essentially, the quote is addressing African-Americans to try and make the best of their situation because their situation is much better than what it would have been thirty to forty years prior. Throughout the speech, Washington maintains this tone of “compromise”. “It is at the bottom of life we must begin and not the top. Nor should we permit our grievances to overshadow our opportunities.” (Washington, Atlanta Compromise, pg.2). Washington argues for this workman-like approach from African-Americans throughout the speech and this quote embodies that. Washington comes from a background of slavery and makes reference to this in his speech as well. Even though the system at the time was still largely geared against African-Americans, Washington advocates for blacks to work with what they have and be grateful for opportunities
Of the many truly inspirational speeches given by African Americans, Booker T. Washington’s The Atlanta Exposition Address is one of the few that intends to achieve compromise. In his speech, Washington is trying to persuade an audience composed significantly of white men to support African Americans by granting them jobs and presenting them with opportunities. His goal is to convince his white audience that African Americans will be supplied with jobs lower than those of white men, allowing white men always to be on top. Booker T. Washington’s The Atlanta Exposition Address adopts a tone of acquiescence and compromise to persuade a predominantly white audience to accept his terms.
Washington and Du Bois had similar purpose, but each took a different approach to reach their goal. Washington’s writing shows that he believes an education is important, but emphasizes to have a skilled trade job gives the African American “a chance in the commercial world” (691). His writing is relaxed and tells a story using everyday speech. His ideas for creating equal rights could be metaphorically compared to his writing. Du Bois, who was highly educated, sophisticatedly writes to persuade his audience that, if change is desired for the blinded, hurting African race, they shall implement steps and demand rights, such as voting. When evaluating Washington to make his opinion consistent, Du Bois says blacks should “analyze the problem on their back” (889). He believes it is their duty to themselves to stand equality.