Booker T. Washington and W.E.B Dubois are arguably two most influential figures on the movement to achieve civil rights for black Americans. They both played large roles in trying to improve racial relations and civil rights during the late 19th and 20th centuries. Although they were both focused on enhancing the quality of black life in the United States, the fact that Washington was from the south and Dubois was from the north caused their views to differ. The “Atlanta Exposition speech” by booker T. Washington addressed the topic of racial relations in the south. “Of Mr.Booker T. Washington and others” was written by W.E.B Dubois as a critique of Washington and his views on the improvement of black life.
In the end, one plan is always going to be better when put into action, and in this case I believe that W.E.B. Dubois had the better plan. Both of these men set out to fix poverty and discrimination against blacks in America, but their strategies were radically different. Booker T. Washington felt that the only way to become equals in an unequal society is for blacks to work hard and become something. His idea was that if enough blacks were to become doctors, lawyers, businessman, and become successful in general that they could not be considered anything other than equal.
Washington focused on having education for real life jobs and not asking for equality from the whites. He just focused on getting help from the whites and accepting their place as blacks on earth. W.E.B Dubois focused on the exact opposite things that of Booker T. Washington. Dubois focused on a strategy called the gradualist political strategy. The gradualist political strategy tells that Dubois was very focused on blacks being book smart to get anywhere in life.
Booker T Washington believed education was the key. Washington called for patience, accommodation, and self-help. He played down political rights and emphasised vocational education as the best way for African Americans to advance. The defeat of south brought great changes for African Americans as slavery ended in 1865 and civil right act of 1866 meant Black people finally had rights. One of the changes that can be linked to Washington’s approach of accommodation is 15th amendment which states that voting could not be denied to a person just because of there race.
Lee concluded that slavery would help both white and black races grow equally. In the letter Lee also questions the motivations and morals of the founding fathers about what equality really meant to them. The letter seems to be ironic, reason being Robert E. Lee should be the biggest supporter of slavery for the South but seems to be torn on the issue (Fair Use
The quote inquires that a subliminal approach is taken in order to control the mind of African-Americans in every aspect of their lives, which is a brilliant point because African-Americans, from adolescent to adult, do not even bother to question why we as a people are in such a mediocritized state. I feel as if African-Americans get put in their “proper place” in society because of their ignorance to the fact that equality will be a never-ending issue. Black people need to develop a new-found sense of urgency, before we lose this battle by default. As time has passed over the years, racial oppression and discrimination have decreased from a national perspective, but is still brought up amongst the ranks of Black and White scholars. One of the most important points I believe Woodson made in his book is the following, “The same educational process which inspires and stimulates the oppressor
Du Bois and Booker T. Washington had contrasting philosophies on how segregation, civil-rights, and political action should be regarded in the black community. In comparison, W.E.B. Du Bois and Booker T. Washington greatly cared for the Southern black community. The two civil-rights activists wanted to achieve racial equality but in their own ways. W.E.B.
How freedoms for African Americans were socially, politically, and economically limited from 1865 to 1900 After the Civil War ended with Union victory, constitutional amendments were ratified to grant equal rights and freedom to enslaved African Americans; however, these rights were limited, restricted by those discriminating against African Americans. This new opportunity, promising African Americans better lives soon turned into lives full of terror and poverty. Many were poor, segregated in public facilities, and harassed, threatened or beaten by White Supremacy terror groups. Instead of living hopeful lives full with prosperity the African Americans wished for, they struggled to survive under conditions that gave them as much freedom as slaves had. African Americans’ social rights were very limited partially because of the Black Codes and Jim Crow laws.
He considered that economic security in this society for blacks was not enough and so they should be educated. Dubois took Booker T. Washington's ideas, elaborated them and took them a stride further. Booker T. Washington just wanted the blacks to have opportunities without equality. In contrary, W.E.D. Dubois wanted blacks to have opportunities as well as equality (BOOKS
Du Bois and Booker T. Washington have many conflicting views. For instance, they both believe that African Americans deserved egalitarianism, but Washington felt that the way to accomplish this goal would be through education. He felt that the establishment of Tuskegee Institute would allow African Americans to utilize education to infiltrate the work force and attain economic equality. Washington’s ideology advises Negroes to compromise by surrendering their civil rights, political rights and higher education for the Negro youth in exchange for a larger chance of economic development (p. 30). As a result, Du Bois says that Washington’s philosophy helped with the prematurely accomplished the disfranchisement of the Negro, the legal creation of a distinct status of civil inferiority for the Negro, and the steady withdrawal of aid from institutions for the higher training of Negro (p. 30).