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1. Booker T. Washington’s address at the Atlanta cotton exposition in 1895 is a primary source which is in chapter 17 of “Voices of freedom” book (#57-60, Booker T. Washington, address at the Atlanta cotton exposition, chapter 17). W.E.B Du Bois’ critique of Booker T. Washington in 1903 is a primary source located in chapter 17 of the “Voices of freedom” book (#61-64, W.E.B Du Bois, critique of Booker T. Washington, chapter 17). 2. Booker T. Washington believes the relationship between individual freedom and the power of government should stay the same, meaning black people should adjust to segregation and focus on bettering themselves before asking the federal government for compensation under the law. Booker T. Washington …show more content…
states toward the end of his speech, “the wisest among my race understand the agitation of questions of social equality is the extremest 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 artificial forcing.” (Voices, P. 60) This quote from Booker T. Washington supports the ideology of black personal growth rather than equality under the law. W.E.B Du Bois believed in the opposite, he disagreed with Booker.
T Washington’s views on adjusting to segregation. He believed Washington’s teachings helped deprive African American’s of higher educational institutions. The deprivation of these led to legal creations such as Jim crow laws that deemed African Americans as inferior. The Accomplishment of law’s like Jim crow expropriated African Americans political rights. W.E.B Du Bois imposes a question that reads “The question then comes: Is it possible, and probable, that nine millions of men can make effective progress in economic lines if they are deprived of political rights,” (Voices, P. 63). This quote from his critique of Booker T. Washington summaries his perspective on federal and individual rights because it questions …show more content…
both. 3. Booker T. Washington’s address at the Atlanta cotton exposition was written eight years before W.E.B Du Bois gave his critique of Booker T. Washington in 1903. During the time Booker T. Washington gave his speech in 1895, events such as the passing of the civil rights act of 1883 and the Pullman strike of 1894 could have influenced Booker T. Washington’s idea of government interference. In both the civil rights act of 1883 and the Pullman strike of 1894, the federal government Interfered and ruled in favor of the opposing views. Those opposing views did not include any modern views of those being persecuted. For example, during the Pullman strike, workers who were protesting by boycotting their jobs because their wages were being lowered were charged. President Grover sent the attorney general at the time to break up the boycott resulting in some workers being charged for boycotting. Another example is the civil rights act of 1883, the supreme court reviewed a series of cases involving African Americans being denied entry to public spaces such as railroad cars. The supreme court ruled against the new principle of being equal involving personal interactions. In both cases, the federal government went against the new ideology being protested, and put restrictions on those groups who spoke against these issues. Booker T. Washington could have taken these events into account, therefore he believed government interference should be kept to a minimum because of government interference making situations like the Pullmans strike worse. This explains why Booker T. Washington believed African Americans should focus on bettering themselves verses striving for equality under the law. Moreover, W.E.B Du Bois believed equality under the law was essential for progress. The supreme court ruling of Plessy V. Ferguson in 1897 could have impacted W.E.B Du Bois stance on government and individual freedom. Plessy V. Ferguson was a foundation for the implementation of Jim crow laws. Although these laws were meant to keep blacks and whites separate, the facilities were supposed to be equal. Most of the time they were not. W.E.B Du Bois could have interpreted Jim crow as a hindrance for the advancement of African Americans because their conditions were not the same as their white counterparts. This helps us understand W.E.B Du Bois’ attitude toward the government and individual freedom. 4.
My personal reaction to Booker T. Washington’s address to Atlanta cotton exposition was disappointment. I did not understand why a black man would feel content with the obstacles presented before him. Booker T. Washington was telling the black people living during that time to give up and accept the way life was. I disagree with Booker T. Washington’s perspective of adjusting to segregation and no longer focusing on the progression of civil rights for black people. I believe that segregation is wrong, and you cannot adjust to something that deprives a certain group of people from the same rights as others. I was personally intrigued when I read W.E.B Du Bois’ critique of Booker T. Washington. I was intrigued because he challenged the ideology of Booker T. Washington directly and explained the effect Washington’s speech had on the black community. I agree with W.E.B Du Bois’ perspective because I believe one cannot advance in personal endeavors if the freedom to do so is not supported by the
government. 5. If Booker T. Washington and W.E.B Du Bois were alive today would there opposing views find a common ground for a racial progress, considering the present-day accomplishments of African Americans in society? Or would they be set in their viewpoints despite the new time-period?
and challenges to African Americans from 1910 until about 1930. Du Bois felt that Americans
...ncerning voting rights, social change, education, and the role of the black man in the South. Du Bois Believed that African Americans should get social and political equality immediately and through education, while Washington thought that African Americans should get social and political equality gradually and through trade skills. Although both offer valid points and arguments, Washington has a more convincing and beneficial philosophy than Du Bois. Booker T. Washington had a gradual approach towards political and social equality which allowed society to slowly accept African Americans into their society which allowed society to adjust better unlike Du Bois who wanted a drastic change. Washington also focused on having an education on trade skills that allowed African Americans to work and contribute to the economy, which allowed them to have a place in society.
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.
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...
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
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. Booker T. Washington was born into slavery on a plantation in Franklin County, Virginia. Like many slaves at that time, historians are not sure of the exact place or date of his birth (Washington, Up From Slavery 7). Washington had absolutely no schooling while he was a slave; he received all his education after he was set free.... ...
Booker T. Washington believed that blacks should not push to attain equal civil and political rights with whites. That it was best to concentrate on improving their economic skills and the quality of their character. The burden of improvement resting squarely on the shoulders of the black man. Eventually they would earn the respect and love of the white man, and civil and political rights would be accrued as a matter of course. This was a very non-threatening and popular idea with a lot of whites.
...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
In 1903 black leader and intellectual W.E.B. Du Bois wrote an essay in his collection The Souls of Black Folk with the title “Of Mr. Booker T. Washington and Others.” Both Washington and Du Bois were leaders of the black community in the 19th and 20th century, even though they both wanted to see the same outcome for black Americans, they disagreed on strategies to help achieve black social and economic progress. History shows that W.E.B Du Bois was correct in racial equality would only be achieved through politics and higher education of the African American youth.
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.
Du Bois said in his speech, “We want discrimination in public accommodation to cease.” (5). This is literally what the quote says. The discrimination against African Americans had become overwhelming. Similarly, Booker T. said, “The wisest among my race understand that the agitation of questions of social equality is the [extremist] folly…must be the result of severe and [constant] struggle, rather than of artificial forcing…” (11). Again, Washington wanted to end discrimination against all races. They both wanted, and exceeded, to make racial relations better. Likewise, they both wanted to end racial discrimination. Additionally, they both had similar reasons for racial discrimination. In paragraph 8, Booker T. Washington said, “While doing this you can be sure in the future, as you have been in the past, that you and your families will be surrounded by the most patient, faithful, law-abiding, and unresentful people that the world has seen.” He is indicating that African Americans are trustworthy, but Caucasians still don’t trust them. Caucasians either supported African Americans or didn’t, and many did the latter because they didn’t trust African Americans. W.E.B Du Bois also said in paragraph 6, "We claim the right of freemen to walk, talk, and be with them that wish to be with us. No man has a right to choose another man’s friend, and attempt to do so is an impudent interference with the most
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
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.
Washington uses a coaching style approach regarding his process of getting his fellow African Americans to enroll in schools and pursue a higher education. Washington embraces the path-goal theory supportive leader behavior perfectly by leading them down a path with the end goal being beneficial to all those who follow it. He motivates his followers by ensuring them that if they work hard and receive a proper education that they will be free from the chains of ignorance and stereotypes that black men and women are only good for manual labor. Although he received mixed reviews at first, people eventually listened and followed his philosophy and sought out higher education. This was very successful as the percentage of African Americans and other minority groups enrolling and graduating college is still increasing. The way Booker T. Washington used Transformational Leadership was by taking a stand and speaking up about the inequality African Americans were enduring regarding education and receiving fewer opportunities than white people. He did not know how far his speeches and philosophy would go, but he knew he had to try something to improve the situation for his people. Washington stated, “…I plead for industrial education and development for the Negro not because I want to cramp him, but because I want to free him.” With this quote we understand his vision as he challenges African Americans to get their education
Washington, Booker T. Up from Slavery in Three Negro Classics, John Hope Franklin, Editor. New York: Avon Books, 1999.