Higher Education vs. Industrial Education in African-American Society

925 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Black education in the 1950s

Debate: Booker T. Washington Verses Dubois

The subject of higher education versus industrial education in the Black society has existed since the two options were open to African-Americans after liberation. Both modes of education act a vital part in African-American corporate identity since they both act as one of many cultural representations.

Corresponding to the late Dr. John Ogbu, a former anthropology professor at the University of California (Berkley), corporate identity refers to “people’s sense of who they are, their ‘we feeling’ or ‘belonging’” (Ogbu 3). He moreover states that corporate identity is shown with “emblems or artistic symbols, which follow their attitudes, ideas, feelings, habits, and literature or dialect” (Ogbu 4). Determining which kind of education acts as a cultural figure of African-American corporate status seems to be the core of the present debate, and this design explores this point in more detail.

Education is an ideological mechanism African-Americans used to enhance their social standing in the United States soon after liberation. During the period of W.E.B. DuBois and Booker T. Washington, the sort of education explored by African- Americans was the focus of intense discussion. Washington was an enthusiastic supporter of industrial/vocational education while DuBois supported both higher and industrial education, but greatly emphasized on the higher education (Ogbu 23). A lot of people in the Black society accepted DuBois’s stand on higher education remained the better proposal because it was thought to uplift the community. They thought that Washington’s approach was inefficient and left the whole race exposed to violation by White Americans.

The importance placed by a few modern Africa...

... middle of paper ...

... from the south could obtain elementary education and beneficial skills that would help them in their endeavor to provide for themselves. Washington's belief was undoubtedly influenced by his encounters at Hampton as and also by his association with Armstrong, and then later developed into his purpose to help increase Blacks based on an technical educational strategy, which eventually generated opposition from others with diverse backgrounds such as DuBois.

Works cited

Moore, Jacqueline M. Booker T. Washington, W.E.B. DuBois, and the Struggle for Racial Uplift. Wilmington, Delaware: Scholarly Resources Inc., 2003

Ogbu, John. "Collective Identity and the Burden of "Acting White" in Black History, Community, and Education." The Urban Review (March 2004): 1-35.

Wolters, Raymond. DuBois and His Rivals. Columbia, Missouri: University of Missouri Press, 2002.

Show More
Related

  • Darwin, Booker T. Washington and the Feminist Movement: How They Have All Influenced Modern Society

    1504 Words  | 4 Pages

    Norrell, Robert J. Up from History: The Life of Booker T. Washington. Cambridge, MA: Belknap of Harvard UP, 2009. Print.

    Read More

  • W. E. B. Dubois The Souls Of Black Folk Analysis

    1071 Words  | 3 Pages

    While growing up in the midst of a restrictive world, education becomes the rubicon between a guileless soul and adulthood. In the excerpt from W.E.B. Du Bois’ The Souls of Black Folk, Du Bois provides a roadmap for African Americans to discover and understand themselves through the pursuit of knowledge, self-awareness, and authenticity. The excerpt is a significant part of the essay because it also speaks for the modern day pursuit of knowledge, self-awareness, and authenticity, an indispensable path into finding one’s self.

    Read More

  • The Influence of Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. DuBois on the Writings from the Harlem Renaissance

    2154 Words  | 5 Pages

    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.

    Read More

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

    1164 Words  | 3 Pages

    ... 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.

    Read More

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

    1057 Words  | 3 Pages

    “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

    Read More

  • Up From Slavery Argumentative Essay

    740 Words  | 2 Pages

    Washington should have pursued helping others to get an education by building a school is because it would help people work together. During this time of the school being built there was segregation between races, and Mr. Washington helped both races work together to build this school. Also he would have the chance of both races to work together to raise money for the school to be built. Then he would be able to have both White and blacks to work together to retrieve, build, and fund for supplies for the school.

    Read More

  • W.E.B Du Bois vs. Booker T Washington

    2086 Words  | 5 Pages

    When talking about the history of African-Americans at the turn of the twentieth century, two notable names cannot be left out; Booker T. Washington and W.E.B Du Bois. They were both African-American leaders in the late 1800’s to early 1900’s, fighting for social justice, education and civil rights for slaves, and both stressed education. This was a time when blacks were segregated and discriminated against. Both these men had a vision to free blacks from this oppression. While they came from different backgrounds, Washington coming from a plantation in Virginia where he was a slave, and Du Bois coming from a free home in Massachusetts, they both experienced the heavy oppression blacks were under in this Post-Civil War society. Booker T. Washington and W.E.B Du Bois were both pioneers in striving to obtain equality for blacks, yet their ways of achieving this equality were completely different. W.E.B Du Bois is the more celebrated figure today since he had the better method because it didn’t give the whites any power, and his method was intended to achieve a more noble goal than Washington’s.

    Read More

  • Of Booker T Washington And Others Summary

    804 Words  | 2 Pages

    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

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Critical Race Theory

    1465 Words  | 3 Pages

    This power keeps the behavior of the oppressed well within the set guidelines of the oppressor (Freire, 2000, pg. 47). Critical Race Theory outlines this system of oppression as it relates to white and non-white races. By using the critical race theory coupled with the system of oppression described by Freire (2000), I propose that within the system of oppression, the oppressor must keep its own members in line with the prescribed guidelines by reinforcing the social norms from birth. Freire (2000) suggest that the interest of the oppressors lie in “changing the consciousness of the oppressed not the system” (pg.34). Identifying as white, therefore, starts at birth when members of the white class work to reinforce social norms that began with our founding fathers at Plymouth Rock. This long history of white privilege was taught to me and I continue to teach it to my children. As an educator of white affluent high school students, I believe we provide college and career counseling based on this white privilege system of oppression as well. Here, I journey even closer to unraveling the myth of white privilege as I encounter the intersection of an affluent white student choosing a career after high

    Read More

  • Booker T. Washington

    1862 Words  | 4 Pages

    Bibliography:.. 1)http://galenet.gale.com/a/acp/netacgi/nph-brs?d=booker+washington&pgl =FT&1&u-/a/acp//db/dma/&r=3&r=1&u-/a/acp/db/dma 2)Drinker,FredrickE.,Booker T. Washington:The Master Mind of a Child of Slavery, Greemwppd,1970. 3)http://docsouth.unc.edu/washington/about.html 4)Jr. Spencer, Samuel R. Booker T. Washington, And the Negro's Place in American Life, Little, Brown and Company. Boston.

    Read More

  • DuBois and Washington on Education

    1102 Words  | 3 Pages

    Washington's approach to solving the problems African Americans faced was rooted in his belief in an industrial education. Born a slave and educated at Hampton Institute Washington learned from a trade and skill based curriculum. He advocated a philosophy of self-help, accommodation and racial solidarity. He believed that the best option for African Americans was, for the time being, to accept discrimination and work hard to gain material prosperity. Washington believed in education of a practical craft, through which African Americans would win the respect of whites, become full citizens, and become fully integrated into all aspects of society.

    Read More

  • Booker T. Washington

    1169 Words  | 3 Pages

    Washington believed that blacks could promote their constitutional rights by impressing Southern whites with their economic and moral progress. He wanted them to forget about political power and concentrate on their farming skills and learning industrial trades.

    Read More

  • African American Students and Equal Education

    779 Words  | 2 Pages

    ...e and prepared for college work. For a student in a black that is majority black and under resourced is highly unlikely to receive an education and graduate on time and won’t be college ready. Unfortunately this scenario happens way too often. Lots of black students do not receive the knowledge that they need to further their education in college and many students that do try to further their education do not end up finishing. Because they missed out on so much information they have a very difficult time doing their work and get the feeling that they need to drop out. It is unfortunate that today, not all students can receive a good education and have a chance a furthering their education and becoming successful. This is why it is necessary that the education system change immediately so that all students can receive an equal opportunity to further their education.

    Read More

  • Up From Slavery, by Booker T. Washington

    1135 Words  | 3 Pages

    The first argument Booker T. Washington makes is that blacks should seek an education that provides them with the opportunity to gain employment by meeting the sp...

    Read More

  • Washington Vs Dubois

    797 Words  | 2 Pages

    In education W.E.B. DuBois believed that an academic education was more important than a trade education. A trade education is an education that gives you the specific skills to perform the tasks of a particular job. He also believed that receiving industrial education would keep black people trapped in lower social and economic classes. Industrial education is an approach to learning from an industry perspective. DuBois wanted black people to succeed in liberal arts and science. Booker T Washington wanted black people to respect and value the need for industrial education . He was against the idea of education just teaching someone how to read and write. He wanted school to be a place where someone can learn how to make life more endurable

    Read More

More about Higher Education vs. Industrial Education in African-American Society

Open Document