In front of a predominantly white audience he asked that white southerners hired blacks because of their love for white people they serviced. Washington praised black loyalty and fidelity to whites. He claimed that blacks would be a great burden on society if they would continue to be oppressed. In my opinion the most important point in Washington’s speech was his position on economic prosperity as opposed to equality. Washington believed that blacks should have the opportunity to earn a living, but not necessarily be equal to blacks; he stated that blacks and whites should be “two different fingers on a hand”.
W.E.B. Du Bois stubbornly insisted that blacks should be seen as equal to whites in society. Washington, on the other hand, feared that Du Bois' decision would lead to violence and suppression in the black community. Du Bois' and Washington's views on formal education were also strategically different. For example, Du Bois believed that blacks should be able to go to the same school and use the same resources as whites.
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 caution, in doing so he not only comes across as an advocate of Blacks gaining “all privileges of the law”(Up from Slavery, 457), but also of Blacks being prepared “for the exercises of these privileges.”(457) By taking this approach Washington is gaining the appeal within the black community as well as the white community. In contrast to this effective stance, Du Bois asks constantly 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”( The Souls of Black Folk 563 ) he feels will do more in the fight for equality than “voluntarily throwing away”(563) the reasonable rights they are entitled to.
Equality Opportunity’ in that the burdens of racism can only be overcome by taking race into account. Affirmative action also aims to reflect the racial diversity of the nation, the ‘Equality of Results’, within schools, the firm and the workplace. Despite being mainly supported by Democrats, and rejected by Republicans President Nixon played a significant role in affirmative action by instituting ‘set aside’ policies to reserve a certain percentage for minorities. The main advantage of affirmative action is that is leads to a greater diversity in societies main institutions, arguably this would not be achieved had things been left as they were. It is also argued on the basis of righting those previously wronged, by opening areas of education and employment that would not have previously been available to minorities.
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
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.
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
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.
Woodson also stressed that society did not make a valid effort in trying to domesticate the African-American after the oppression of slavery ended. Instead of having shackles around their wrists and ankles, African-Americans now had to deal with an industrialized world which purposely got a head start and left them behind. However, it was also stated by Woodson that African-Americans should forgive but never forget how they were placed in such an economical, physical, emotional, and social deficit, but use it as a tool of hope and determination for the
He valued freedom very much and made the point if there is no struggle than there is no progress. Douglass’s element of freedom was by educating the people in displaying the horrors of slavery and the harsh treatments. He made it his mission to exhibit how white slaveholders extend slavery by keeping their slaves oblivious. During the time when Douglass was writing, a lot of people really believed that slavery was something that was normal. They had the belief that blacks were integrally powerless of contributing in civil society and therefore would need to be kept as workers for whites.