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Of the many African American writers that we have studied throughout the semester I would like to focus on Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Dubois. Both of the literary works of these two men had huge impacts on the African-American culture as well as mainstream white American culture. Booker T. Washington advocated for accepting the established system and assimilating the African-community into the white. On the other hand, W.E.B Dubois appreciated Booker T. Washington’s efforts towards becoming one with the mainstream white culture, but Dubois believed that it was the African-American’s duty to not compromise the basic equalities that the entire black community should relentlessly fight to possess. Both of these African-American leaders accomplished …show more content…
great strides of progress in the civil rights movement, however, with different motivations. Booker T. Washington’s Atlanta Exposition Speech led the way for the largest African-American success of the late 19th century, the Atlanta compromise. Washington’s views on the role of blacks within mainstream white culture were for them to start at the bottom and work their way up. He established the agreement between white political leaders and black, that was for African Americans to accept their position within society. In return, they would receive basic levels of education and fair treatment in regards to due process of the law. At the time of the speech, in 1895, in was not common for a black man to speak in front of a predominantly all white audience. This speech became the most influential on the black community directly following the civil war. Booker T.
Washington called out to all of the southern black community, this call was aimed at achieving integration of blacks into white mainstream culture. Something that I disagree with, but was a good first step for the African-American’s was to compromise with the white leaders of American in order to receive basic things such as education. What the whites received positively was the fact that instead of hiring immigrants they can use the roughly one-third of the southern populous for these jobs. He believed that “In all things social we can be as separate as the fingers, yet on as the hand in all things essential to mutual progress” (Washington 182). In other words, his logic was for the black culture to take a baby step into mainstream white culture. Its as if he didn’t think African American’s were fully ready take leadership within society. If that wasn’t the case, he just may have not thought it possible. Instead, he praised the black mans loyalty to the white man, he thought that the African-American’s purpose within this country to was be submissive to the white …show more content…
man. Washington’s ideas promoted segregation between blacks and whites. His ideas were for a great purpose, but I think they were not what the role of African Americans was truly meant to be. His purpose was aimed at economic growth instead of black equalities. He saw that there was a large portion of the American population that was being wasted. For example, Washington uses the phrase “Cast down your bucket where you are” (Washington 181) numerous times throughout his speech. Considering Booker T. Washington was the founder of Tuskegee University that taught all blacks, he saw an opportunity to train them for the work force. He saw incentive that whites would see and that that there was a slight labor shortage in the northern factories. The African-American labor was the best alternative. On the flip side, blacks needed a cause, they need a moral boost, and being involved in the economy was a great alternative to unemployment and oppression. Approximately eight years after the Booker T. Washington speech W.E.B Dubois gave his rebuttal, and was in fact his harshest critic. He made claims from an entirely different perspective than Washington, which was to strive for the highest role in society as you can. Dubois who was part African American himself, thought that Washington was not helping blacks assimilate within mainstream white culture in the best way. What Dubois did give credit to Washington for was his ability to begin his life with almost nothing and to eventually accomplish so much. In addition, he was the first to really bring together blacks and whites in post civil war America. Unfortunately, Washington made a horrible mistake; he accepted that blacks were inferior to whites. This in turn, does not help the African-Americans achieve an equal relationship within society. In contrast with Dubois, Washington pushed for trade school type of jobs for the blacks within America. Dubois instead advocated for blacks to achieve much more, to get a foot into the professional world. He thought that blacks could strive in jobs such as healthcare, law, and business. Dubois was right he firmly stood by the fact that blacks and whites are equal. There was no reason that they couldn’t achieve and qualify for the exact same positions as the whites. I think what Dubois did not like about Washington’s beliefs were that it was completely accepting of submissiveness rather than excellence. Dubois thought that there was every reason to assume that after African Americans have fought for there emancipation they can also fight for their civil rights. Washington wanted to rid the African-Americans position with in politics. He didn’t think higher education was needed; blacks should only focus on trade schools and industrial type labor. This ideology was horrible for seeking assimilation into mainstream white culture. As much as Washington believed he was helping the African-American culture I think he was holding them down. His intentions were for the greater good, but Dubois saw the bigger picture. He knew that blacks were just as capable as whites, which is why he firmly disagreed with Washington’s viewpoint and speech. What Dubois luckily realized was that blacks will forever make zero progress within American culture unless they sought after higher education, and strived to the highest degree of power.
Ultimately, Washington caused more problems for black people within America than he did any good. Yes, he did in fact bring the black and whites of this country together but kept them stratified at the same time. This puts Booker T. Washington in to two categories; he is in therefore both the protagonist as well as antagonist for African American equality. That being said, he is seen as someone to can be looked up to by the black culture. He is someone who did in fact come from so little and make the most of himself that he could. Washington was search of improving what the black experience from his point of view. At the same time, he can be put at fault for bowing down to the prejudices that left blacks and whites
segregated. What Washington fell short of realizing was that without even something as simple as the right to vote they could not achieve any level of political stance in white culture. At this time blacks were under pressure from all corners of society and were held at a significantly lower economic status as whites. It wasn’t even until 1964 that civil rights act was passed in the United States. This is why I think W.E.B. Dubois saw the correct future for the African-American experience. Even though blacks were granted their freedom, they were pushed down to the lowest class of society. What Washington wanted was for them to stay in this position, when Dubois believed it was possible to reach the top. Furthermore,
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.
W. E. B. Du Bois and Booker T Washington were very different, they undoubtedly influenced the Black population of the United States.
Washington was a prominent public figure from 1890 to 1915; many even considered him as a spokesman for the African American Community, especially after the Atlanta Compromise speech in 1895. In his speech, he asked white Americans to help blacks find employment and gain knowledge in the agricultural and technological fields. He did not experience the harsh conditions of slavery. Dubois was raised in a majority white community, and at Harvard University became the first African American to attain a doctorate degree.
Booker T. Washington was considered one of the shrewdest African American leaders of all time. As one commentator stated, Washington was modest but "too dignified to be humble". Nevertheless, Washington had a great influence on various African American writings and his influence can still be seen today.
option to him because it seemed to have better results. On the other hand, Booker T. Washington recognized existing equally with whites wouldn’t be a simple task. This is why ...
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".
He seemed to have “supported segregation and the disenfranchisement of Blacks,” despite being “involved in politics” while speaking on the “prevention of disenfranchisement” (Seaton 55). Washington did what he believed was best for the helpless Americans, but in doing so, the perception he gave to them and DuBois was that “the white stereotype holds over Blacks and how they are positioned to be aware of it” (Seaton 55). In “The Souls of Black Folk,” DuBois even states about the “distinct status of civil inferiority for the Negro” under Washington’s policy (DuBois 1331). In Washington’s Atlanta speech, his motive was “to show whites that Blacks were making incremental progress and to ease the tension that was building all throughout the country” (Seaton 55). It can be said that Washington was publicly working under the ideology of white-supremacists, compensating them instead of the Black community. On the other hand, DuBois wanted to “integrate the African-American people into the modern affairs of America and allow for them to forge lives and gain inclusion into American society” (Seaton 56). He wanted to include minorities in the “American social body,” whereas Washington didn’t strongly oppose segregation, but only wanted to ease tensions with white-supremacists (Seaton
...to be equally educated. His speeches not only attracted the black people but also, northern and southern white people. Booker worked hard for all that he achieved during his life time. People all over were followers of Booker T. Washington. One example of how much these followers appreciated Washington is through raising money for a trip to Europe. Not just anyone went to Europe in those days. The trip showed how much the people appreciated Booker’s efforts for civil rights and education of blacks. They sent
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
Booker T. Washington was a great leader. He was all for helping the black community become stronger. His goal was very hard to achieve considering the period in which he lived. America, during Washington's time was under reconstruction. The Civil War was over and blacks were, by law, equal to any other human being. Slavery was abolished and many southerners had a problem with that. To many whites, black people didn't deserve and weren't intellectually "ready" for such freedoms. The South had such a hard time accepting it that Union troops were stationed in southern states who couldn't cooperate. Booker T. Washington is a prime example to southerners who think that blacks can amount to nothing. In my paper I will talk to you about the many accomplishments he has made and the hardships that were attached to his achievements. As always a lot of people tried to pull Booker down. Some were even of the same race as Mr. Washington. But along the way a lot people helped Booker. People who he helped, his family, his community, and others who felt he was just a really great guy.
The readings Booker T. Washington, The “Atlanta Compromise” and “Of Mr. Booker T. Washington and Others” were both very interesting to me. The “Atlanta Compromise” was the actual speech Booker T. Washington gave to a majority white crowd asking for support for vocational/technical training and education. His focus on the speech was for the Black community to use their skills to earn a living and focus more on that than race relations. He was encouraging the black community to gain financial security and be open to getting the necessary tools to be their own providers.
...ed from the institution through manual labor. Washington successfully makes his point that manual labor and industrial education could lead to the advancement of the black race following slavery.
Even thought Booker T Washington was born a slave, he still did great things after he was free. He went to Hampton Institute and the latter became a teacher. He also founded Tuskegee Institute, which focuses on vocational education over college education. In the 1980 when the lynching’s of blacks increased he was telling African Americans to try harder to get along with white people and stop demanding rights. I think that during that time it’s hard to get along with white people when you are getting lynched just because of the color of your skin.
Booker T. Washington had visions of equality for the black and white race, but his visions were somewhat different from that of the norm. He wanted to build up the black race slowly, knowing that equality was not to be achieved overnight. He taught blacks the power of knowledge and hard work to which they could gain a respect from their former masters of this country, and prove to them that they could live together and help out each other. He didn’t want to be better than the white man, he didn’t even dislike the white man, he just wanted to prove to the white man that a black man can have just as good of a heart. Washington took the positive factors out of everything in life, whether good or bad, and paved the way for a non-segregated country. He has no remorse for anything that has happened to his race, infect he says it best when he states, “Ever since I have been old enough to think for myself, I have entertained the idea that, notwithstanding the cruel wrongs inflicted upon us, the black man got nearly as much out of slavery as the white man did.';(13)