W. E. B Dubois Analysis

The philosophies of W.E.B Dubois and Booker T. Washington are prevalent in Zora Neale Hurston’s “Jonah’s Gourd Vine”. From childhood to adulthood, John worked towards bettering himself through two ways; uplift black voices through education and working hard to help his family function in society. John’s coming of age are due to the influences of two important women in his life; Amy and Lucy. Amy’s presence in his life taught him how to work for himself, become someone who can support himself and others that depend on him. John knowing Lucy set him for the rest of his life. She influenced his education, the way he chose to carry himself, then consequently lead others the way she led him. Through the uplifting of Amy and Lucy, John was able to

become a self sufficient person, and when he lost those influences he lost sight of himself.
When Hurston first introduced John to the readers, he was established as the second head of the house. Readers knew that Amy adored him, and did everything in her power to make sure John grew up to become his own man, even willing to risk her own wellbeing for her child’s safety. The quote, “Ned Crittenden, you raise dat wood at mah boy, and you gointer make a bad nigger outa me” (Hurston 2) is a perfect example of that. Ned has always used John as a target for his anger, “Well, iss de truth, Dese white folk orta know and dey say dese half-white niggers got de worst part uh bofe de white and de black folk.” (Hurston 8). Never does Amy let Ned’s comments about John’s place in society stand. She makes sure her sons are aware that Ned’s anger towards John and other mixed race people is displaced towards a societal structure that doesn’t allow them to get ahead. Amy’s views about working hard and helping white people mirrors that of Booker T. Washington. As a slave himself, Washington believed that the only way African Americans could achieve integration was helping each other to been seen as equal in the white man’s eyes. Both Washington and Amy are very forward thinking for their time; both believing that total separation from white people isn't the solution, but neither completely depending on them either. Raised on these values by an influential woman sets John to meeting Lucy.