Booker T. Washington once said, “Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome.” Both BTW and FD had great struggles. They are both exemplary African-American men who helped shape the country as we know and enjoy it today. All that these men did was in the face of great opposition. The lives of Booker T. Washington and Fredrick Douglass bore witness to this fact. Everyone agrees that Booker T. Washington and Fredrick Douglass experienced adversity. Some people believe adversity destroys a man’s character, while others believe it cuts and refines them. A man’s character is revealed through adversity for 3 reasons both men were refined through their time in slavery, both men grew up without a father, and both men were denied any formal education and were …show more content…
Slavery taught them the value of hard work. Although Washington was freed at eight years of age and never had to suffer the back-breaking work of a grown slave, he still witnessed the plight of the workers picking cotton from dawn to dusk. Douglass however, did not purchase his freedom until his mid-20. He experienced the full weight of slavery on his very own weary shoulders. While Booker T. Washington was freed, Fredrick Douglass was forced to buy his freedom after first daringly escaping to Europe. The second reason a man’s character is revealed through adversity is both men grew up without a father. This empowered them to do whatever possible to give them the best father they could. They wanted to gift their children a hand-up in life. Both were married twice, and had children from both women. Washington and Douglass realized that, although not necessary, a child needs a father to have a great start to a very productive life. Lastly, this gave them the opportunity to instill good and godly values into their
Frederick Douglass, born many years earlier, suffered under the wrath of his cruel slave holders for 20 years. Although these two men were born under far different circumstances, they both possessed many similar traits as they both yearned quality education, demonstrated determined perseverance, and obtained ultimate freedom. Firstly, both men yearned quality education. From an early age, Booker T. Washington possessed the motivation and ability to succeed in schoolhouse
There was no equal justice. Southern men had to be careful of their language; no doubt, also, careful of their thoughts. It befitted them to be careful, they would feel, in a land that had a bitter epithet, “nigger lover,” for those whom it wished to cast sharp stones. It would seem that as far back as 1906, when a fearful race riot overran Atlanta, Dr. Booker T. Washington had hastened there from Tuskegee and persuaded certain influential whites and Negroes to sit down and consult in the same room over causes of plague that had over taken them, this was the start of the interracial co-operation. Wat Booker T. Washington did was amazing, it was an act of non-violence and brought people from both races together.
Booker T. Washington was the preeminent black educator in the late 19th, early 20th century, a major influence in topics such as southern race relations and was also the dominant figure in black public affairs. W.E.B. DuBois was the first African American to graduate from Harvard University with a Ph.D. He was also the best known spokesperson for African Americans and he founded the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) In 1909. Both Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. DuBois thought the social change was needed. They both also wanted education to be instrument that African Americans used to bring about this change and they both also wanted the African American community to prosper economically.
Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Dubois were both iconic African American leaders. Even though they had the same goal, their mindset was totally different . One believed in economic rights, and the other believed in social and political progress. These men both conquered the goals and made a mark in black history. Striving for different out comes, Booker T Washington and W.E.B .
By examining Douglass’ narrative his resilience to educate white audiences about the horror of slavery can be seen through his own story. Douglass’ narrative is set up in order for him to give an example of someone who has suffered through slavery and has witnessed first hand the harsh lives of slaves. Although the narrative feels like a success story, Douglass understood that his freedom wouldn't truly feel like freedom until slavery was abolished. By writing, “Sincerely and earnestly hoping that this little book may do something toward throwing light on the American slave system, and hastening the glad day of deliverance to the millions of my brethren in bonds … relying upon the power of truth, love, and justice, for success in my … efforts and solemnly pledging myself anew to the sacred cause, I subscribe myself” (Douglass 76). Sheds light on the idea that slavery was good for the slave.
Frederick Douglass was a good person during his lifetime for all the good things that he had done to help the world in a lot of places while he had been a slave which is very great due to the fact that he had very little to help him throughout his journey of helping the world. In my opinion I think that the greatest thing that Frederick Douglass had done was help to stop slavery. Another thing that I am very surprised of what he had done was learn how to read. This is very shocking to me that he had learned how to read because he barely had any resources to help him but he still did not give up, in fact Douglass had actually kept on pushing forward on learning how to read and he had used every resource that he could find because he knew that in order to help himself be successful in freeing the slaves and to do a lot more that would help the world. Something that I find sad about Frederick Douglass’s life is that he did not have parents to help him with all of the great things that he had done due to the fact that he lost his mother when she had tried to run away and save him while his father was a white man who had forced Douglass’s mother into making children to
One of Douglass first task were driving oxen to receive a load of wood. As a result, this would be his first time dealing with oxen and would fail to the standards of his master. This would cause his master to whip him and then he would be continued to be whipped daily. In this action, Douglass would determine that he was worth more than a slave and stand up for himself.
(Douglass 81). Slavery was very much a dark place with little to no hope besides the allusive freedom. Slavery through its numerous divesting and debilitating aspects broke down people in a dehumanizing process. However, tides where about to change and Douglass would be a key advocate in the abolitionists movement. He would be a major figure in showing that African American could integrate into the normal world.
Frederick Douglass was brave and tenacious abolitionist. He put himself at risk by continuing his attempt to abolish slavery while there were numerous consequences and dangers with the task. For example, if he were caught by his old slave holder, he would have been tortured or executed. He did not let others keep him down and persistently strived for freedom of slaves. Also, as Deborah stated, he was taught to read and write by some youngsters.
In the Star-Spangled Banner, a song written solely to represent the freedom of the Unites States, it specifically states, “For the land of the free and the home of the brave.” So, why did being brave in the home of the brave cause many slaves to be punished and broken down to believe they were worth nothing? Why were slaves not free in the land of the free? How did some slaves, such as Frederick Douglass, find freedom, while others never even came close? There are many factors that contribute to Douglass’ freedom but some main ones are that he realized it was not impossible, he had a want for more in his life, and he had strong determination that came from what he saw and experienced.
Booker Taliaferro Washington once stated, “Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome” . Booker Taliaferro Washington was born into a time of slavery and racism that ultimately wrote his name in history. Washington’s early life was an harsh time period and a rough school life. He had many accomplishments including the school he established called the Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute, and he also wrote a few books.
There are a few ways that Booker T. Washington and W. E. B. DuBois differ in their strivings for racial equality. The reason that these men differ in their views are pretty apparent and go back to the separate arguments that Jane Addams and Elizabeth Cady Stanton produced for women's rights in the 19th century. Jane Addams made some compromises in her push for women's suffrage to make her argument easier to swallow and take a small step towards equality. Stanton puts out her whole argument for total equality which made her argument hard for her generation to accept, but got all the problems on the table.
Frederick Douglass, author of the narrative by the same name, was a slave that was not physically free, but he was mentally. While other slaves did not realize that what was going on was wrong, Douglass did. He used his mentally freedom to become free physically free as well. Douglass’ hardships started the day he was born. He was born into slavery, like other African-Americans, and was constantly treated like dirt.
During the turn of the century the Jim Crow era, between the years 1895- 1950 there were two prominent black leaders that arose in order to accomplish one goal equal rights for African Americans. Although these two leaders shared different ideas and strategies for dealing with the Jim Crow era. Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois dedicated their lives to gain equal rights for African Americans. Booker T. Washington was one of the most influential African Americans of the 19th century.
“Character, not circumstances, make the man.” Booker T. Washington. This quote describes how Booker T. Washington and Fredrick Douglas managed to get through slavery and became great speakers and writers. Up From Slavery is written by Booker T. Washington and is about his life story growing up as a slave but freed by the emancipation proclamation and eventually became a great spokesman. The narrative life of Fredrick Douglas is written by Fredrick Douglas and is about his extremely hard life as a slave.