Booker T. Washington vs. W.E.B. Dubois Essay

When it all comes down to it, one of the greatest intellectual battles U.S. history was the legendary disagreement between Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. DuBois. This intellectual debate sparked the interest of the Northerners as well as the racist whites that occupied the south. This debate was simply about how the blacks, who just gained freedom from slavery, should exist in America with the white majority. Even though Washington and DuBois stood on opposite sides of the fence they both agreed on one thing, that it was a time for a change in the treatment of African Americans. I chose his topic to write about because I strongly agree with both of the men’s ideas but there is some things about their views that I don’t agree with. Their

On September 18, 1895, an African-American spokesman and leader Booker T. Washington spoke in the front of thousands of whites at the Cotton States and International Exposition in Atlanta. His famous “Atlanta Compromise” was one of the most influential speeches in American. regardless Washington soothed his listeners’ concerns about the what they said “uppity” blacks. Mr. Washington was a very well-known black educator. Even though he was born into slavery he strongly felt and believed that racism would in fact end once the blacks put effort into labor skills and proved themselves to society. He pressured industrial education for African-Americans so that they would gain respect from the whites. Washington often was good for ignoring discrimination because it didn’t phase him. But he was so nervous

At the early turn of the 20th Century United States, there was a large debate about how the average American viewed African Americans or Negroes. As a result, white consensus geared toward putting Africans in a type of caste system, where they would consider below whites, women, and immigrants. By this point, most African Americans were just conforming to this way of life and did not seek to change this. While this occurred, many intellectual black men sought to change how society treated African Americans. At the forefront of the respected intellectual was W.E.B. Dubois who sought to shake the foundation of caste and the Harvard professor by the name of Booker T. Washington who wanted to fight within the caste system. Both men had the right idea and the same end goal, which being the enhanced rights of blacks, but by how this would be different. The point of view that has a more grounded argument is W.E.B. Dubois; as seen in how Dubois talks on the basis of fighting the disenfranchisement of political power of African-Americans, against forfeiting civil rights and working toward the equality of a higher education for Negroes.

Near the close of the nineteenth century, Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. DuBois both strived for change in ending racism each in their own way. There are some people that believed the peaceful way that Washington went about achieving change to end racism was the best way, and there are others that believed that DuBois’ idea to agitate to achieve the end of racism was a better plan. Washington was very non-confrontational in his stance of how African-American people should ultimately achieve this goal. DuBois tried to achieve the goal in a very aggressive way compared to his contemporaries, including Washington.

“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. .” This quote was said by the famously intelligent, hard working, and dedicated activist, Booker T Washington. He, being born a slave, knew this since his childhood and he knew the obstacles that would be in his way as a black man, even after the Civil war. Booker T Washington and W.E.B DuBois were 2 very different people with very different pasts. W.E.B. was born in the north prior to the civil war where many people accepted and welcomed African Americans into society. His past differs so much from Booker T’s childhood of slavery. Overall, both of these historical figures made a positive impact on society and equality even though they achieved their goals with different viewpoints regarding how to achieve them.

In this essay you will read about numerous similarities as well as differences between these two gentlemen. Their names are Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. DuBois. But before I explain the differences between these two gentlemen, I will give you a more in depth background on each of them. This information that I will provide for you will give you a clearer thought on how they were raised and their beliefs.

There were two major leaders in the African American community in the 19th and 20th century, Booker T. Washington and W.E.B Dubois. Washington and Dubois were both leaders in the fight for black equivalence. Washington was perhaps the distinguished black lecturer at the curve of the time period and Dubois was one of the creators of the NAACP. Together they concurred that the objective was maximum contribution by blacks in American society. The variances in their upbringings affected both of their decisions on how that objective could be attained.

Washington believed the only way African-Americans would be able to attain equal rights was through patience and submission to whites. He believed they needed to gradually work their way to the top and slowly build the trust of whites. In his Atlanta Compromise speech in 1895, he advised blacks to “cast down their buckets where they were” and to use the skills they had to their advantage (Washington 219). He believed that building the trust of the whites was the only way blacks were going to get the equality and respect they deserved. He knew they had a sort of “give a nigger an inch,he will take an ell” mentality and were terrified of an uprising (Washington 144). He wanted blacks to prove them wrong by earning their trust. His strategy of patience and submission can be related to his early life as a slave. He was born as a slave and lived in bondage until he was nine years old. He was used to being submissive and obedient to white people. Although he was free, he knew that white people still had power over his life. He knew that they could easily take everything away from him if wanted to. He knew very well the consequences of challenging white people and did not want to see his fellow African-Americans go through that type of frustration and suffering. To him, it was perfectly normal to take what you were given, be grateful and not ask for more. He understood very well the importance of not biting the hand that fed him

Dubois writings, unlike Washington’s writings survived aging and sounds modern. Both Dubois and Washington, however, wanted the best for their people, both were sincerely engaged in racial uplift, and therefore in the end neither was “right” or “wrong.” Indeed, Washington’s ideas fitted the era that he lived in and Dubois ideas the future.

Washington, he wanted african americans to focus on themselves in order to gain economic improvement rather than having the need to demand for social equality and their civil rights. Washington created a speech later calling it Atlanta Compromise in which he wanted african americans to start accepting segregation. There was a hesitance to follow and support Washington because segregation was what they wanted to get rid of but he advocated that segregation was something people just had to deal with and some people agreed and others did not. Surprising W.E.B Du Bois argued against Washington in a novel he created named The Souls of Black Folks in 1903. Du Bois as a philosopher argued the complete opposite of Washington statement.

     Perhaps the most important event in Washington’s life came on September 18, 1895 in Atlanta. Political leaders had invited Washington to speak at a convention that celebrated the South’s resurgence in business. Never before had a black spoken at such a prestigious exposition. In his address, Washington spoke of a compromise between whites and blacks. Washington urged blacks to accept their inferior social position and raise their status by learning vocational skills. Many whites were pleased with this speech and most blacks, awed by his prestige, accepted his statements. However, Washington faced strong opposition from militant blacks who strongly opposed his statements. The NAACP and American writer W. E. B. Du Bois were the strongest opposers.

Two of the most influential people in shaping the social and political agenda of African Americans were Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Dubois, both early twentieth century writers. While many of their goals were the same, the two men approached the problems facing African Americans in very different ways. This page is designed to show how these two distinct thinkers and writers shaped one movement, as well as political debate for years afterward.

When segregation occurred in Georgia, two of the most influential African Americans in history are Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. DuBois. Both Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. DuBois fought for the struggle for equal rights for African Americans. These two men when about segregation very differently. Booker T. Washington accepted this social separation and felt that African Americans could advance faster through hard work rather than demanding these rights. On the other hand, W.E.B. DuBois felt that African Americans should speak out against discrimination and fight for that cause, so they would be accepted into the world as citizens, just like whites are. If I were to agree with one of these two views on the discrimination of African

Washington was urging African Americans to work and achieve economic success assuring them that it would pay off in due timing. He wanted them to be humble and patient in return the day would come when white Americans would see that blacks truly deserved to be treated fairly. Washington also urged the white American's to join with the African American’s instead of being fearful and against them. Washington stated both could “be as separate as fingers, yet one as the hand in all things essential to mutual progress.” Washington was urging white American's to trust African American's, instead of them relying on foreign immigrants. He wanted white

Booker T. Washington and W.E.B Du Bois were the most influential African Americans’ who fought for better treatment of the African Americans’. Washington promoted peaceful protest for the African Americans while Du Bois used a stronger tone. “Shout, O children! Shout you are free!”. (Bayme Levine 888). Washington was born a slave and later became educated. His experience as a slave made him more accommodating leader. He advised African Americans to accommodate the unequal treatment they received from the white Americans. In the speech, popularly known as Atlanta Compromise, washngton argued that African americans should defer the quest for equal rights in return for low level economic