Signs of Progress Among the Negroes, by Booker T, Washington. The Century Magazine, January 1900. New York City, New York. 11 pages. Reviewed by Jozlyn Clark Booker T. Washington (April 5, 1856 – November 14, 1915) was an American educator, author and leader of the African American community.
Washington’s ideas. Booker T. Washington was a prominent figure after the Reconstruction Era. He was a part of the group that created the Atlanta Compromise, which stated that blacks would submit to white political rule in exchange for vocational education. This agreement would ensure that black men could have an education which would aid in their accumulation of wealth, and allow them to live in peace with the white men in their community. DuBois does not necessarily agree with Washington, feeling as if he was complying with the notion of black inferiority.
Regardless, they were able to aid in ending discrimination and received equal standing in education, labor, acquiring of land, etc.. If it had only been Du Bois fighting for equality, then he would have achieved the fight for equality sooner. On the contrary, Du Bois only provided one view to how African Americans were being treated; Washington had a friendlier approach. This may be due to his fear of being lynched or placing African Americans in a harsher situation than they already were. Washington seemed more methodical—he was thinking about African Americans having the full rights of the 14th and 15th amendments. At the same, he was also concerned about the consequences of his speech, and if it angered the whites more than it relieved the situation they were all facing.
T. Washington wrote, “The sentiment of the masses of my race when I say I have no value of manhood...been more fittingly and generously recognized than by the managers of this magnificent exposition at every stage of its progress, “What Washington is saying is he believed African Americans can’t be as influential as white people. However Du Bois states, “The end of his striving to be a co-worker in the kingdom of culture, to escape both death and isolation to use his best powers and latent genius”. By saying this Du Bois shows that he believes African Americans can prosper in society and be just as influential as the white people.
I agree with Booker T. Washington for the simple fact he has more of an independent aspect for African American people. As to W.E.B. DuBois wants white to feel sorrow for what they have done to African Americans. I do agree that whites should feel bad for what they did but I don’t think it makes anything any better if African Americans fresh out of slavery were just handed things. Just handing things to people would create a lazy society and it would start a bad habit that may turn into another big problem like slavery. W.E.B. DuBois's beliefs weren't bad considering he was the founder of a school for blacks, one of the reason I do not agree with him is because he demanded equal rights for blacks.
Booker T. Washington was a man of action. A great orator, he could galvanize people to his cause. He believed in fighting, and hopefully, winning. For reforming the South, he saw a long-range plan for educating African Americans for responsible citizenship and complete integration into the American way of life. He established a school for the education of African Americans.
Booker T. Washington is by far one of the brightest and strongest minds from his time. During his Atlanta Exposition address he displays his intellect masterfully. From Mr. Washington’s use of language he was able to seamlessly piece together a speech that we still analyse to this day. Mr. Washington use of rhetoric explains and enlightens the circumstances of freed African Americans trying to fit into communities in the south. From mistreatment and racism still present in the newly freed people.
E. B. Du Bois and Booker T. Washington debated whether to confront or appease racist attitudes in the United States. As segregation regimes took hold in the South in the 1890s with the tacit approval of the rest of the country, many African Americans found a champion in Booker T. Washington and adopted his self-help autobiography, Up from Slavery (1901), as their guide book to improve fortunes. Washington portrayed his own life in such a way as to suggest that even the most disadvantaged of black people could attain dignity and prosperity in the South by providing themselves valuable, productive members of society deserving of fair and equal treatment before the law. A classic American success story, Up from Slavery solidified Washington’s reputation as the most eminent African American of the new century. Yet Washington’s primacy was soon challenged.
Dr. W.E.B Du Bois uses this essay to sway the audience of the insufficiency of the statements that Mr. Booker T. Washington has made about African Americans being submissive of rights and the creation of wealth. Mr. Washington believes that the black race should give up and give into what the society norms were at that time sequentially just to have a certain right. Dr. Du Bois refused to believe that the black race should give up one right to get another right. Especially, when the white South had all rights without expecting to give up anything to have those rights.
Because of this, Washington was less concerned about political rights and more on promoting the policy of accommodation. In other words, Washington felt that equality could be achieved by appealing to the white Southerner. Washington urged Blacks to accept segregation for the time being and focus on proving their equality through financial independence (Painter, 155). On the contrary, W.E.B Du Bois sharply disagreed with the idea of accommodation.
However Booker T. Washington believed in having a more skillful education, consisting of learning how to trade, mastering agriculture skills and more things one would need to get a job. However, W.E.B DuBois also put many efforts to achieve equal rights towards African Americans which Booker T Washington put on hold. Booker T Washington’s plan was to make it so that “Blacks would [have to] accept segregation and discrimination but their eventual acquisition of wealth and culture would gradually win for them the respect and acceptance of whites”. This vision that Booker T Washington had “practically accepts the alleged inferiority of the Negro race”. W.E.B commented on this process saying it was an attempt, “to educate black boys and girls simply as servants and underlings.”
Washington believed in working simple labor jobs and starting from the bottom and progressing up in order to gain the respect necessary to achieve racial equality, Du Bois believed in not submitting to lesser occupations and demanding racial equality. Washington says that the key to prosperity is through learning to dignify common labor. Whereas Du Bois states that “Becoming a gospel of work and money to such an extent as apparently almost completely overshadow the higher aims of life.” “Common Labor” is viewed by Washington as the only way to make progress toward a higher quality life, however, Du Bois views “common labor” as a social setback. Washington’s views can be summed up, almost completely, in the following quote “It is at the bottom of life we must begin, not the top.”
Washington believed that a subtle approach instead of a direct challenge would be more successful for black people in the South (McKenna). He believed that in order to better the lives of African Americans and to help them someday realize the dream of full citizenship; they must first better themselves and build up their segregated communities (Moses). Washington’s philosophy of character building and social values in the black community would eventually build trust and better relationships with the white community. He wanted blacks to have access to education and to learn skills that would bring them economic success. Through prosperity, they could demonstrate their value to society and ultimately gain their civil rights.
He says that "It is at the bottom of life we must begin, and not at the top. Nor should we permit our grievances to overshadow our opportunities" (Washington). Because of Washington's acceptance of inferiority of his race, at the time, economically, he again appeals to the white audience in front of his speech, at the African American expo. He almost apologizes for how low the blacks are starting by saying "Gentlemen of the Exposition, as we present to you our humble effort at an exhibition of our progress, you must not expect overmuch" (Washington). This puts the pressure of equality on the black community, and takes pressure off the white community.
In the analysis of the abundance of wonderful leaders who made a difference in the African American community since emancipation, W.E.B Du Bois made a special impact to advance the world. From founding the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, to his influential book The Souls of Black Folk, he always found an accurate yet abstract way of verbalizing the strives of African Americans as well as making platforms for them to be known. Although he had less power than most of the bigger named African American leaders of his time, W.E.B Dubois’ overweighing strengths verses weaknesses, accurate and creative analogies, leadership style, and the successful foundations he stood for demonstrates his ability to be both realistic and accurate in his assessment since emancipation. Though Du Bois did have a beneficial impact
