The problem of black leadership between 1895 and 1915 was raised by the celebrated debate between Booker T. Washington and W. E. B. DuBois. For two decades Washington established a dominant tone of gradualism and among blacks, while W.E.B. Dubois introduced a different approach.
Both Washington and DuBois wanted the same thing for blacks, first-class citizenship, but their approaches for obtaining it differed. Washington focused more on the method of advising blacks to start at the bottom, obtain an education, and work their way up to citizenship. DuBois, on the other hand, believed that political action and academic education would be the means to achieve full citizenship rights for black Americans. I believe that with each approach came its
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Washington explains that even if they were granted freedom, they should cast down their buckets “among the eight millions of Negroes whose habits you know, whose fidelity and love you have tested in days when to have proved treacherous meant the ruin of your firesides” (Washington 196). I believe Washington is trying to make the point that the support system for the blacks is and will remain in the South. Washington is also explaining that there is no better treatment that they can receive than from their own race. Washington is making a point that leaping from slavery to moving to the North may be too big of a leap to take, and that it would be an easier transition for the blacks to remain where they are, with people they know, and jobs that they do well. Washington counseled blacks to remain in the South and avoid politics, protest, to obtain a useful education, save their money, work hard, and purchase property. Washington believed by doing so, they can “earn full citizenship rights”. Nevertheless, I believe that just because it is easier to stay in the South and stick with the same jobs, does not mean that it is the best opportunity for the newly freed blacks to take advantage of all the opportunities that they have been opened up to
What does he hope to accomplish? Washington hoped to show that the Negroes needed to trust their neighbors and work together in the new south. They lived and worked next to their previous slave owners and he used the metaphor of the ships meeting in the sea with one needing water. “Cast down your buckets where you are”. For the south to recover his race would have to trust the friendships of the white race.
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.
Booker T. Washington and W.E.B Dubois are two of the most influential black men of the progressive era. These two men would influence the black community and education to come for many years later. Booker T. Washington was an American educator,author,orator,and adviser who wanted to start his own school. W.E.B Dubois was an American sociologist,socialist,historian,and civil rights activist. Booker T.Washington and W.E.B. Dubois have many similarities.
E. B. DuBois was a white civil rights leader during the nineteenth century. In 1903, DuBois critiqued Booker T. Washington’s “Atlanta Compromise” in an essay called “Of Mr. Booker T. Washington and Others” within his book, The Souls of Black Folk . DuBois asked for political power, insistence on civil rights, and higher education for African Americans. Booker T. Washington’s speech was looked at by many and to the radicals it looked like a “complete surrender of the demand for civil and political equality”(DuBois) for the entire African American population. Abolitionists such as Frederick Douglass and W. E. B. DuBois disagreed with the idea of accommodation and submission.
The Atlanta Constitution Booker T. Washington vs W.E.B. Dubois For many years black folks have been suffering under white rule. For many year blacks have been hindered from success, but now blacks have the opportunity to work their way up next to whites if they unite and follow either Booker T. Washington or W.E.B. Dubois. W.E.B. Dubois believes that blacks should demand that blacks fight for their freedom now. On the other hand, Booker T. Washington realizes that the whites aren’t ready for equality with blacks and that they need to gradually increase their freedom by becoming economically successful first then by gradually becoming free. Washington was born into slavery, yet he overcame that great struggle and is an important figure for
Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. DuBois were both highly regarded as early advocates for equality for African American civil rights post emancipation and are highly regarded as the founding fathers of the African American progression, although both are noted for having different methodologies on how the goals should be accomplished. Booker T. Washington was known as the first of black activist. Born on a slave plantation in Franklin County, Tennessee somewhere between 1858 and 1859 (pg.572), and his family was later freed by the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863. It was his belief that for African Americans to become successful in progression they would need to “conform to the dominant myth of individualism” (pg.571) During the Atlanta
Dubois and Washington strategies were extremely different and the way they thought about going about equality. Washington was loved by whites he was not the one to get confortartional. Washington wanted blacks to sit around and wait. Whereas Dubois was hated and feared by whites. Dubois was an agitator.
Thesis statement: The two great leaders in the black community debating about the issues that face the Negro race and Du Bois gave a compelling argument by using pathos, logos and ethos to create an essay that will appear to all readers. Outline: This essay will showcase the contradicting philosophies between W.E.B Du Bois and Booker T. Washington. Also, paying close attention to the different types of leadership between the two historic leaders in the black community. Both W.E.B Du Bois and Booker T. Washington contributed to and helped shape the future of African Americans.
Washington was a successful farmer in the South which served as a great example of how hard work can lead to success. The hard truth of the South was local governments controlled by white
Washington stated “Cast down your bucket among these people who have, without strikes and labour wars, tilled your fields... builded your railroads and cities….and helped make possible this….progress of the South” (Washington, Atlanta Exposition Address). He repeats the phrase “cast down your bucket” to emphasise his message to blacks, to remain where they are. Specifically, he is telling whites to NOT seek immigrant workers, but instead reach out to millions of blacks who are unemployed in the South. Washington is asking whites to give blacks the chance to prove their worth, and influence economically. He also highlighted the fact that southern blacks were loyal workers, AND that they built the South without going on strikes and labor wars, which were common in northern industrial society.
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.
W.E.B DuBois’ plan was smarter than Booker T. Washington’s because DuBois’ plan was to fight for the rights of African Americans, and give people a good and equal education. Booker T Washington’s plan was to ignore segregation and discrimination so he can just focus on the wealth and education of former slaves to win over the whites acceptance. One part of DuBois’ plan was the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, NAACP. This Association was one of the most influential civil rights organization. It “focused on legal strategies designed to confront the critical civil rights issues.”.
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.”
W.E.B. Du Bois and Booker T. Washington were two great leaders of the black community in the late 19th and 20th century. They both had the same intent with their thought but they came from two different backgrounds so it was hard for them to have agreement. Booker T. Washington spent his early childhood in slavery. W. E. B. DuBois grew up both free and in the North. Ergo, he did not experience the harsh conditions of slavery or of southern prejudice he grew up with white Americans and even attended predominately white schools.
Washington appears to make some compromises in his argument. His speech is actually called the "Atlanta Compromise." He says that "in no way have the value and manhood of the American Negro