Comparison of Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois

Comparison of booking agent T. majuscule and W.E.B. Du Boisbooking agent T. upper-case letter and W.E.B. Du Bois had contrasting views on how to deal with the problems cladding Ameri drive out-Americans. Which was superior in dealing with these conflicts?Booker T. spraining capital and net Du Bois are peradventure the 2 most important and influential Afro-Americans of the late ordinal century and they some(prenominal) bouted pivotal roles in the Civil Rights movement. However, as the question suggests, they likewise had very contrasting governmental beliefs when it came to impacting the depressed movement. To to the full understand where the two leaders had similarities and contrasts in their political views, I exit initial study capital of the United Statess contributions to the African-American work, and the reasons behind his choices. Focus will and because shift to Du Bois views and his of import criticisms of capital letter, and whether these criticisms were valid or not.To understand the methods and reactions of uppercase and Du Bois it is kickoff essential to understand the background they were functioning in. During the late nineteenth century, when chapiter and Du Bois were at their peak, Reconstruction had failed and life for around African-Americans was considerably worse then it had been before the American Civil War and the abolishment of slavery. African-Americans found themselves in the worse p get ahead jobs in both countryfied areas, where they were exploited by an unfair managecropping system, and in more(prenominal)(prenominal) urban areas, where the industrial revolution was initiation to take hold. Segregation was also rapidly moving throughout American society being reinforced in 1896 by the Plessy vs. Fergusoncase where it was decided that sequestration was constitutional under the argument that it was separate but equal. much worryingly, during this time the number of African-Americans falling victi m to lynch was rapidly growing. ascribable to these worsening conditions numerous another(prenominal)(prenominal) African-American leaders of the time developed a tolerating attitude towards the obvious oppression there people were leting, believe that candid remonstrance would moreover put one across situations worse, and so instead they would appeal for aid from wealthy and influential discolours and encourage African-Americans to lift themselves by their bootstraps1.When looking at the background context it becomes clear wherefore capital letter and Du Bois had differing views when it came to Civil Rights. uppercase had been born a slave in the southward and grew up unwell fed and clothed and was denied an development. Growing up in the South Washington would pretend had first devote experience with the sort of discrimination many African-Americans were faced with at the time and would have also understood the authentic business organisation many African-America ns had of lynching. With this in mind it can be seen wherefore Washington would have been more button-down in his methods of wining Civil Rights. Du Bois by contrast was born a freeman in the North and didnt suffer discrimination until he entered higher educational activity, and so it is understandable why he would not have had the same reservations as Washington when it came to a more bag antenna to dealing with the oppression of African-Americans.Washingtons work for the African-American incline can be most clearly seen when looking at the Tuskegee Institution, which free exists today. The school opened in July 1881 and was at the outset only dummy rented from a local church, with only one teacher, that being Washington. The following course Washington was able to purchase a former plantation, which became the permanent localise of the school, and the students themselves erected and fitted the buildings, as well as growing their witness crops and rearing their own live stock. While the Tuskegee impart did offer some academic training for teachers, its main focus was on providing practical skills ask to survive in rural areas, such as carpentry and modern agricultural techniques. It can be argued that this more vocational slant towards teaching was damaging in the growth of African-American rights, however Washington believed that to become affectionately equal to whites, African-Americans mustiness first become economically equal and show that they are liable American citizens, who had something to offer society. Also, it can be argued that the practical teaching of the Tuskegee give was out-of-the-way(prenominal) more beneficial for the time than academic teaching would have been. The Institute is also a good example of why perhaps Washington had some merit with his views of appeasement. Washington was able to use his experience with powerful white men to help finance the school and even got ex-slave owners, such as George W. Campbell, t o deliver the new school. Without this aid it is unlikely that the Tuskegee Institute would have ever evolved from a small rented room into the huge inception that it is today.While the Tuskegee Institute showcased Washingtons views on education the capital of Georgia pilgrimage engineer illustrated what he supposedly believed African-Americans place in society should be. Washington delivered the place in 1895, and was designed to cement the friendship of the races and bring about tender cooperation between them 2. Washingtons main purpose with the Atlanta Address was to help contact a realistic settlement between Southern Whites, Northern Whites and the African-American community in a time when race relations were only getting worse. Washington was no doubtfulness anxious not to subvert the white population who held African-Americans at their mercy, and so he urged ingloriouss to remain in the South, work at the common occupations of life, and accept the fact of white c ommand 3. When addressing the white population in his speech Washington reassured them that African-Americans had no intention or interest in securing cordial equality, that all they inevitable was economic cooperation, In all things that are purely social we can be as separate as the fingers, yet one as the hand in all things essential to mutual raise 4.The work Washington did for African-American crossed over into the twentieth century with the psychiatric hospital of the National lightlessness commercial enterprise Leaguein 1900. The aim of the League was to help promote and further the commercial and financial development of African-American business 5, not only in the South but also the North of America. The origin of the League empathized Washingtons belief that to become socially equal to whites that African-Americans must first become economically equal. However it can be argued that the League held subaltern importance when considering African-American business as i t did little to assist, but that it allowed Washington to have a stronghold of men in every black population of importance 6.Compared to Washington Du Bois political views can be seen as being quite fore for the social climate of the time. Du Bois probably had more radical views because of his different background, as he didnt have a invoice of slavery and did live in fear of lynching the way many African-Americans did at the time. However, Du Bois did share some similarities in thought with Washington, for example Du Bois also believed that African-Americans needed to help bring themselves out of social inequality. However, unlike Washington, Du Bois believed that African-Americans needed leadership from a college-educated elite group and that simple vocational education wasnt equal to elevate the position of African-Americans in society, Men we shall have only as we make manhood the object of the work of the schools intelligence, broad sympathy, knowledge of the worldly conce rn that was and is, and of the relation of men to it this is the curriculum of that Higher Education which must be true life.On this foundation we may build bread winning, skill of hand and quickness of brain, with never a fear lest the child and man fault the means of living for the object of life7, Du Bois set out the roots of an elite group of African-Americans teaching other African-Americans in his The Talented Tenth article, the nous being that there was one in ten African-Americans, the talented tenth, was satisfactory of becoming an influential leader, who would lead other African-Americans to a better future.Du Bois had many criticism of Washington, many of which he set out in an canvass in 1903 titled Of Mr Booker T Washington and Others. Du Bois felt that Washington focused too much on vocational education and that his educational program was too narrow 8. This particular criticism no doubt evolved from Du Bois own education which was wide and varied, and his more privileged background which allowed him the lavishness of exploring avenues of education that wouldnt directly lead to work. Du Bois also believed that Washingtons methods and arguments practically accepts the alleged lower status of the Negro races9. This criticism is almost entirely valid as Washington himself stated that African-Americans should accept White Supremacy in his Atlanta Expedition Address, and while it is doubtful that Washington himself saw the African-American race as inferior, he did little to try and convince the general population otherwise.Washington urged African-Americans to earn security through economic means and technical skills, and he put little importance on higher education and political and social rights, believing that they would follow naturally from economic freedom. However Du Bois argued that this approach would lead to many African-Americans living below the poverty line, because he believed that it was insufferable for most people to gain ec onomic rights and freedoms when they were unequal socially. Du Bois also clashed with Washington due to their differing political ideologies. While Washington championed capitalist ideals, Du Bois, who became a atomic number 82 nasty Marxist, felt that any social freedoms gained by economic progress would make the African-American population into dishonest money makers 10.Du Bois Marxist views came into play with other disparagements he had with Washington, most apparent in 1903 when Du Bois tried to invoke Washington was using hush money to control the African-American press, to make sure his own views were the more favoured in print 11.To some compass point Du Bois criticisms of Washington were valid, as Washington did little to resolve the social issues that plagued the African-American race, so as not to seem controversial or intemperate to the white population. However, when looking at the backgrounds of the two leaders it becomes obvious why they had such opposing views. Washington had been born a Slave in the South and so he would naturally be more cautious and reserved when dealing with the white population as he knew the misemploy that a majority population could cause to African-Americans. He matured in a time when the number of lynchings was ever growing, and so he would in full recognise and understand the fear most African-Americans lived with. Du Bois by contrast, was born a freeman in the North, which was far more liberal and accepting than the South and so he didnt have a proper grasp of the day-by-day problems and anxieties many African-Americans dealt with. It can also be argued that while Du Bois spent outsized amounts of his time criticising Washington, he actually did nothing practical to forward the progress of African-Americans the way Washington did with the Tuskegee Institute.While Du Bois was Washingtons most vocal and famous opponent, he was far from the only challenger. A black president of Atlanta University, seat Hope, w as vocal of his disagreement with Washingtons Atlanta Address, stating in 1896 I regard it as cowardly and dishonest for any of our coloured men to tell white people and coloured people that we are not struggling for equality. now catch your breath, for I am going to study that we demand social equality 12. While this view was to be expected among Northern black leaders, Hope shattered the illusion that all African-Americans in the South were uncoerced to simply accept their lowered social status.William Monroe trotter, editor of the Boston Guardian, was another of Washingtons most unfor endowment critics and claimed that Washington, whatever good he may do, has wound and is injuring the race more than he can aid it by his school. let us hope that Booker Washington will remain mouth-closed at Tuskegee. If he will do this, all his former sins will be forgiven13. Trotters views are to some degree far harsher than Du Bois were, but the general idea theme is the same, that Washingt on was not helping the African-American race by deemphasising the importance of social equality, and that he was in fact hindering to movement. Trotter also challenged Washington at a National Negro Business League meeting in Boston while Washington was giving a speech. Trotter posed a number of questions that challenged Washington and his views, before he was arrested. While Washington did not respond to the challenges, Trotter make his point and the incident was reported as The Boston Riot the abutting day in papers.As can be seen, Washington and Du Bois had to some degree very opposing views on how to handle and progress the African-American race. Washington put great empathize on vocational education that would give practical skills to African-Americans living in the South. Rather than focus on social and political equality, Washington stressed the importance of economic advancement, believing that once the average African-American had the power of wealth that political and so cial freedoms and powers would follow. Washington felt there was great importance in mollify the white majority, for the economic and political power it affording him in furthering the African-American cause and because he lived in the turbulent South, where it was dangerous to be a radical black man. Du Bois political ideas contrasted with Washingtons idea of appeasement and he had a far more radical approach to Civil Rights. Du Bois didnt think that it was possible for African-Americans to give economic equality before they had achieved social and political equality. Du Bois more radical approach stems from his background, as he did not share the same fear as Washington and did not experience the same forms of racism. Bu Bois could afford to be more radical has he had not experienced slavery and his attitude in the North meant that he did not share the fear of lynching that many in the South had. Du Bois also put more empathise on academic teaching and did not feel that Washing tons vocational education would be useful in helping the progress of African-Americans. However, Washington and Du Bois did share some similarities in political thought. They both recognised the importance of having the support of powerful white men, who could both finance and encourage their cause.While both Washington and Du Bois had good arguments for doing things in their particular ways, it is probably safe to say that neither had perfect strategies. Washington was too timid to argue for equality, and Du Bois had no practical ideas he could implement. It is fair to suggest that a mixture of their two views would have been the best way to progress the African-American cause, as Washington had practical methods of improved the average African-Americans life, such as the Tuskegee Institute, and Du Bois was able to protest the obvious oppression that African-Americans suffered.BibliographyAmerican Memory from the Library of Congress, 2008, National Negro Business League, http//lcwe b2.loc.gov8081/ammem/amrlhtml/dtnegbus.htmlFairclough, Adam, 2002, Better Day Coming Blacks and Equality, 1890-2000, crude York Penguin BooksFranklin, John H., Meier, August, 1982, Black Leaders of the Twentieth Century, Illinois University of Illinois PressHistory Matters, 2006, Booker T. Washington Delivers the 1895 Atlanta Compromise Speech, http//historymatters.gmu.edu/d/39/History Matters, 2006, W.E.B. DuBois Critiques Booker T. Washington Of Mr. Booker T. Washington and Others, http//historymatters.gmu.edu/d/40TeachingAmericanHistory.org, 2008, The Talented Tenth by WEB Du Bois, http//teachingamericanhistory.org/library/index.asp?document=174White, John,1985, Black Leadership in America 1895-1968, New York Longman Inc.