Booker T. Washington could be considered a complete opposition, tactic wise, to W.E.B. Du Bois. Washington preached a message of accommodation and self-help. He encouraged the black population to join schools and educate themselves in order to improve themselves (A). He received high criticism for his ideals of accommodation, many other black reformers thought about him as an Uncle Tom for not wanting to change the conditions of the blacks sooner. But Washington believed in a patient game of chess, let the others play their pieces and when the time comes the whites will see how truly valuable and capable blacks are. Later the NAACP, largely due to Du Bois, will bash on his ideas and methods for change. This is after his Atlanta Address of 1895 where he again advocated for accommodation (D). Washington advocated a "go slow" approach to avoid a harsh white backlash. The effect was that many youths in the South had to accept sacrifices of potential political power, civil rights and higher education. His belief was that African Americans should focus on their education and economy of their southern home. Washington valued the "industrial" education, as it provided critical skills for the jobs then available to the majority of African Americans at the time, as most lived in the South, which was overwhelmingly rural and agricultural. He thought these skills would lay the foundation for the creation of stability that the African-American community required in order to move forward. The address mentioned many of the things blacks had accomplished for the nation, calling for whites to look at this Negro population: educated, organized, patient, faithful, law-abiding, unresentful people. 25 year-old Washington sought to improve the…
On January 1, 1863, the United States’ Negro population was proclaimed “henceforth and forever free” according to President Abraham Lincoln’s establishment of the Emancipation Proclamation. However, years after its release, the Negro population was still mistreated. After the Civil War, white southerners were relentless in establishing themselves as the superior race. The newly implemented Black Codes restricted African Americans' of their new freedom and essentially began a new form of slavery. African Americans experienced violent discrimination and devastating poverty daily. In an attempt to diminish this oppression, two great and well respected leaders of the black community, Booker T. Washington and W. E. B. DuBois, offered contrasting approaches. Both methods contributed to the movement; however, one was more appropriate for the time period. Overall, Washington’s philosophy of self help and acceptance of discrimination was the better fit.…
At the start of the 20th century, Jim Crow laws still crippled the rights of the African American community and segregation was at an all-time high. Even occupations such as Federal employment were degraded through segregation. Consequently, small protests began; insignificant in the short term, but it truly laid the foundation for the civil rights movement to have a major impact throughout America. Despite the limits and obstacles in their path, men and women rose to new heights, disregarding the concept of white supremacy. Whilst they had to endure a life of hardship, being denied higher education and the vote, many would not allow themselves to remain ‘separate but equal’. This essay will explore the accomplishments of African-American leaders but focus on how they couldn’t have succeeded without the influence of other factors, such as the federal government, a view shared with Miles Mulin who stated that ‘… in combination with their own persistent efforts, only the concerted efforts of a muscular federal government guaranteed the most fundamental rights…’…
Booker T Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois are both remarkable black leaders of the black Americans. What they do with the inequality of blacks is very different. Booker T Washington was born in a black slave family and his way to work is to communicate with the white and make them feel the way they are in an upper level and blacks are beneficial for them with letting them being accepted in their earth. W.E.B. Du Bois attended Fisk University, a top historically black college, obtained his bachelor’s degree from Harvard University, and studied in Berlin.( “The 'Old Negro' of Booker T. Washington versus the 'New Negro' of W.E.B. Du Bois.)His idea was to say to the Whites about what they need to be down and they need to accept black people to their society in a polite way, his main idea was to let blacks have the equal rights and equal education with black peoples. Booker T. Washington’s idea was to focus on the jobs for blacks that would get their normal life goes on, he is not trying to get any higher rights from white people. His help for black is letting whites accepting them on the world of white people. Gaining equality and letting black people become well educated was the idea that W.E.B. Du Bois had for the reforming of black people’s identity. W.E.B. Du Bois has the better idea of reforming the identity of black in America society because his idea was more beneficial for the black people because it is more of what black would expect.(Seraile, William. "Washington, Booker T." In Hoogenboom, Ari, and Gary B.)…
Up from Slavery is the 1901 autobiography of Booker T. Washington chronicling over fifty years of his personal experiences. It starts from working to rise from the position of a slave child during the Civil War, to the difficulties and obstacles he overcame to get an education at the new Hampton University. It also explores his work establishing vocational schools—most notably the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama—to help black people and other disadvantaged minorities learn useful, marketable skills and work to pull themselves, as a race, up. He reflects on the generosity of both teachers and philanthropists who helped in educating blacks. In this text, Washington climbs the social ladder through hard, manual labor, a decent education, and relationships with great people. Booker tells the story from a different perspective - what life was like growing up as a free man. In this autobiography of his life, Washington’s generalizations and accommodations of the treatment and disregard for the African American by people of the White race was nonchalant, as though he felt that for some reason it was okay or necessary for African Americans to be treated as second-class.…
At a time when the Black community is being afforded a free status, but not one of equality, many leaders arise out of the woodwork to appeal to the white governing body for social equality. The transition from the ninetieth century to the twentieth century gives birth to two of these leaders, Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois. These two men are both working to achieve a common goal, but the roads on which they're each traveling to get there differ significantly. Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois offer different strategies for dealing with the problems of poverty and discrimination facing Black Americans. Booker T. Washington's gradualism stance gives him wide spread appeal among both blacks and whites, although W.E.B. Du Bois has the upper hand when it comes to ideology dealing with economic prosperity and education amidst Blacks. Product of slavery, Reconstruction, and Black codes (Roark, et al p.616), Washington favors the humble - ask nicely; appreciate what you're given; and say "thank you" - approach to obtaining social equality. Washington addresses the issue with meticulous caution, in doing so he not only comes across as an advocate of Blacks gaining "all privileges of the law"(D), but also of Blacks being prepared "for the exercises of these privileges." By taking this approach Washington is gaining the appeal within the Black audience as well as the white community. In contrast to this seemingly effective stance, Du Bois stands on the platform of ask, but ask incessantly with a loud and firm voice. Du Bois even goes as far as to say that if the Black community wants social equality they must simply complain. "Ceaseless agitation"(F) he feels will do more in the fight for equality than "voluntarily throwing away"(E) the reasonable rights they are entitled to. The opposing approaches of Washington and Du Bois are far from unnoticeable, and receive recognition from both sides. Whether or not these two dynamic leaders are intentionally attacking…
During the turn of the century, between the years 1895 and 1915 there were many theories of how African Americans were going to achieve first-class citizenship. At this time first-class citizenship was determined by at least three aspects: political power, civil rights, and the higher education of Negro youth. Two prominent black leaders arose in order to accomplish this feat. They had two different ideas for one goal. These two black leaders during this time were Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois. Booker T. Washington was considered at this time to be the spokesman of the black race, however, W.E.B. Du Bois proposed a plan that set him right under, if not with, Mr. Washington. While Booker T. Washington believed in industrial and agricultural labor; I adamantly agree with W.E.B. Du Bois 's strategy of the pursuit of intellect through higher education in order to gain first-class citizenship for the African American race.…
The time period of 1877 to 1915 was a period in history when the people of the Black race were being granted a free status, but equality, on the other hand, was not an option to some higher white officials. During this time period, many leaders started to fight for what they believed in by appealing to the white governing body for social equality. Two of the leaders that came out of that uproar were the well-known Black equality activists of that time, Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois. Both of these leaders ultimately had the same goal, however, the paths that they took to achieve that goal were significantly different. Booker T. Washington had a “gradualism” stance to deal with the problems of poverty and discrimination facing Black Americans, while W.E.B. Du Bois wants Black equality immediately and does not offer any alternatives. In retrospect, Booker T. Washington’s strategy was more appropriate for the time period than that of W.E.B. Du Bois because Washington’s proposal included the whole race of Blacks along with compromises with the white population while Du Bois’s proposal only included the top ten percent of the Black race, making his philosophy inappropriate for this time period.…
Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Dubois had two very different ideas on how to accomplish their goals for equality. Washington urged blacks to accept there inferior social positions and strive to raise themselves economically. As stated in Document D, He believed that ' The opportunity to earn a dollar in a factory just now is worth infinitely more than the opportunity to spend a dollar in an opera house.' Here he suggests that before blacks strive to attain complete equality, they should be more concerned with having the money and respect in order to do so. He believed that for the time being, segregation was acceptable and suggested that blacks not concentrate on receiving a good education but to learn well to work with their hands. This was an appropriate because it was very realistic and set blacks up for a future of equality, even if it could not be attained at that time. The…
Continuing from page 66, ‘The Tuskegee Idea’ goes into details about Booker T. Washington’s philosophy and the thriving start of Tuskegee institute. It also mentioned ideologies of black people during that time, such as ‘voting from principle’ and the ‘Ecoduster Movement’. The passage started by referred to Washington’s humble approach to gaining much need support from both white and black communities. According to the book, he knew that rich white people had the power and control to either help or hinder advancement.…
The debate between Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Dubois turned out to be one of the greatest intellectual as well as inspiring battles in our United States history. This great debate sparked the interest of African Americans and whites throughout the entire country. Both men had distinct views on how blacks should go about progressing politically, socially, as well as financially here in the United States. Both Du Bois and Washington wanted African-Americans to have the same rights as white Americans; But Du Bois encouraged African-Americans to demand equal rights, while Washington, on the other hand, often ignored discrimination. He believed that it was important for blacks to develop good relationships with whites because He was afraid that blacks who demanded equal rights would create bitterness between themselves and white Americans. Dubois ridiculed Mr. Washington’s tactics believing Washington’s accommodations program asked blacks to give up political power, insistence on civil rights, and higher education for Negro youth. Although Bois was ridiculed by these tactics he still respected him he says “Among his own people, however, Mr. Washington has encountered the strongest and most lasting opposition, amounting at times to bitterness, and even today continuing strong and insistent even though largely silenced in outward expression by the public opinion of the nation. Some of this opposition is, of course, mere envy; the disappointment of displaced demagogues and the spite of narrow minds” (W.E.B Dubois 3) While their strategy may have differed, both of these remarkable men had a common goal in the uplift of the black community.…
During this time the Jim Crow laws were into play, they required that everything be “separate but equal”. Booker T. Washington avoided antagonizing white Southerners by accommodating himself to follow the Jim Crow laws with no opposition to them. While he did not try to disrupt, Washington did play a major role in politics for African Americans and establishing thousands of small community school and higher institutions for higher learning and education for African Americans.…
In 1895, Booker T. Washington delivered his “Atlanta Compromise” address. Washington’s speech was very influential and was almost not allowed to be spoken in front of a mainly White audience. However, it was decided that having a Black speaker would impress the Northerners and prove the South’s racial progress. Washington’s compromise provided the theory of “cast their buckets where they are” for the Blacks. Throughout Washington’s entire address, the use of multiple literary strategies highly influenced the Blacks to stand up for themselves while still remaining inferior to the Whites.…
In 1895 there was discrimination everywhere. In America people of African descent had a miserable existence. Less than 40 years earlier, they were either “owned” property, known as slaves, or lived a very humble, poverty stricken life. Booker T. Washington was among a number of very few blacks that were articulate, well educated, and well informed. He was aware that his life stood as an example to both blacks and whites that his race was capable of much more. His purpose was to bring the United States together and show how everyone could benefit. In this speech, Booker T. Washington uses many rhetorical devices to promote changes in the combined community of the nation. In his opening statements he was clear that the audience as a participating element in society should recognize the “American Negro”.…
Booker T. Washington, considered today as one of the most influential and respected African American figures, was born into slavery and was later freed by the revolutionizing effects of the Emancipation Proclamation. His charismatic and peaceful personality along with his role in philanthropic acts, politics, and negotiations soon turned him into a source of admiration shortly after the end of the civil war. He worked for the coexistence of blacks and whites and in his strive, he delivered his most famous speech, known as the “Atlanta Compromise Address”.…