How Dubois and Booker T Washington Differs on The Issue of Politics.
Book T. Washington and Wee DuBois are two of the most important and influential African-American’s of the late 19th century. Their roles in the civil right movement of African-American is very important but they had contrary belief and this belief had impacted the African American movement greatly. To fully understand their different views how they are similar and different from each other, the contradicting philosophies of these two great leaders is a debatable topic in today’s world and it is always been discuss when providing solutions to end racial injustice and class disparities. The source of their disagreement is always on their Way of approach in helping the black progress economically and socially.
The most popular black leader of his day is Booker T. Washington, his influenced on the black community is unrivaled, he is a rigid activist who taught a philosophy of self-help, racial harmony and pacification from 1856 to 1915, during his years he encouraged black people to embrace the discrimination that are done against them and like the saying using the brick thrown at you to build a house, they should see the discrimination as an opportunity and improve on themselves through hard labor and material wealth. Booker T. Washington is a man that firmly believes in the growth of characteristic, these characteristics include patience, enterprise and thrift through instruction in crafts, industrial and farming skills.
W.E.B DuBois, is a renowned man of intellect, he is also a scholar and also a political theorist who reigns between the year 1868 to 1963, in his time he warned that Washington approach to the progress of the black community would only serve to maintain white domination, in his time he was active in the formation of the NACCP, it was established for the political action and civil right agenda. He was also of the opinion that that transforming the blacks socially can be done by refining tenth of the blacks that are educated and in college.
The eighteenth century was a very hard time on the black community because of the rise in racial discrimination and white intolerance, after independence, the intelligent African Americans fought tirelessly to eliminate societal racial divisions, W.E.B DuBois and Booker T. Washington are two prominent intellectuals from that era. But due to the contradicting beliefs of these two men, they were always at loggerhead with each other and their contradictory opinion was always publicized. DuBois was of the opinion that African Americans were to be given full fledge equality same as the white but Washington’s opinion was to allow the black have employment go to trade school so that they might have a secured life, both individuals have a strong belief in their opinion and inspiration, but Booker T. Washington ideals were more rational and artfully communicated to the public, making Washington’s ideals more influential and crucial to the struggles the African Americans than that of Dubois.
Dubois was a very outspoken endorser of African American equality. He was one to never censor himself no matter who the audience. Each speech he gave was filled with the ideals he strove to achieve, the full equality and advancement of the African American. Unlike other orators of his time, he did not attempt to impress people with his large vocabulary and knowledge of the world for what it was, but rather, he spoke with conviction and power, caring only about appealing to the African Americans and invoking the same sense of passion for what the world could be. This description of Dubois’ beliefs, were proven true time and time again. With unwavering confidence and conviction in his own beliefs, Dubois would show the same passion in every speech and paper he wrote. Never once did he censor his ideals to appeal to those who did not feel as strongly as he is
These two are the most prominent member of the African American in the nineteenth century, they both played major roles in the civil right movement, they had completely different political convictions when it comes to their impact on the African American movement.
The Tuskegee institution that is still in existence today is the most notable works of Washington, due to his belief that African American has to be on par economically and socially, he created the institution and the institution was a practical institution and it was considered to be more beneficial to the African American than academic institution, with his connections he was able to seek funds to sponsor the institution, to the extent that ex-slaves owners like George W. Campbell was also a major funder of the institution. His main purpose of creating this institution was to improve the African American ways of life and to help in the settlement between the southern whites and the northern whites.
A business league was created in 1900, it was part of Washington’s effort in helping the African American, the ultimate aim of the league is to promote the commercial and financial development of the African American which is in line with Washington’s conviction for the African Americans to become socially equal to the white they must first become economically equal, but the league was not of much help to the African Americans because it has much limited values, but it created stronger followers of Washington in the black population.
Compare to Washington’s belief Dubois belief is considered more radical and rational, Dubois believed that African Americans needed to help themselves overcome social inequality and unlike Washington Dubois affirmed that only an educated elites would be able to change the social status of the black population as at then, he believes vocational education is not enough to improve the African American status in the society, in a publications that was released “The Talented Tenth” Dubois showed outlined the idea of an elite group of African American teaching other African Americans, the talented tenth was capable of becoming an influential leader who would lead other African- American.
Washington and Dubois held diametrically opposed ideas on how to deal with and advanced the African American race, while Washington was so particular about vocational education, which would provide skills to African Americans in the south, appeasing the white was a very important to Washington because of the economic and political influence it gave him in forwarding the African American cause and mainly because he resides in the south where it is very dangerous to be a radical black man, Dubois political ideal counters Washington’s appeasement policy. DuBois believed that African-Americans could not attain economic equality until they had established social and political equality. DuBois’ more radical attitude originates from his upbringing, as he did not share Washington’s dread or feel racism in the same way.
DuBois could afford to be more radical because he had never been a slave and because he was born in the North, he didn’t have the same dread of lynching that many in the South did. DuBois also placed a greater emphasis on academic instruction and did not believe that Washington’s vocational education would aid African-American growth. However, there were certain political similarities between Washington and DuBois. They both understood the significance of having the support of powerful white men, who could both finance and encourage their cause.
While both Washington and DuBois had strong justifications for their respective approaches, it is easy to conclude that none had ideal solutions. Washington was too afraid to advocate for equality, and DuBois lacked practical solutions. It’s fair to say that combining their two points of view would have been the most effective way to advance the African-American cause, because Washington had practical methods for improving the average African-life, American’s such as the Tuskegee Institute, and DuBois was able to protest the obvious oppression that African-Americans faced.
