W.E.B. Dubois & Booker T. Washington Essays - Reconstruction Era

W.E.B. Dubois & Booker T. Washington At a time when the Black community is being afforded a free status, but not one of equality, many leaders arise out of the woodwork to appeal to the white governing body for social equality. The transition from the ninetieth century to the twentieth century gives birth to two of these leaders, Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois. These two men are both working to achieve a common goal, but the roads on which they're each traveling to get there differ significantly. Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois offer different strategies for dealing with the problems of poverty and discrimination facing Black Americans. Booker T. Washington's gradualism stance gives him wide spread appeal among both blacks and whites, although W.E.B. Du Bois has the upper hand when it comes to ideology dealing with economic prosperity and education amidst Blacks. Product of slavery, Reconstruction, and Black codes (Roark, et al p.616), Washington favors the humble - ask nicely; appreciate what you're given; and say ?thank you? - approach to obtaining social equality. Washington addresses the issue with meticulous caution, in doing so he not only comes across as an advocate of Blacks gaining ?all privileges of the law?(D), but also of Blacks being prepared ?for the exercises of these privileges.? By taking this approach Washington is gaining the appeal within the Black audience as well as the white community. In contrast to this seemingly effective stance, Du Bois stands on the platform of ask, but ask incessantly with a loud and firm voice. Du Bois even goes as far as to say that if the Black community wants social equality they must simply complain. ?Ceaseless agitation?(F) he feels will do more in the fight for equality than ?voluntarily throwing away?(E) the reasonable rights they are entitled to. The opposing approaches of Washington and Du Bois are far from unnoticeable, and receive recognition from both sides. Whether or not these two dynamic leaders are intentionally attacking each other, one can only speculate that the vast differences in methodology creates tension within the arena. In Washington's ?Atlanta Compromise Address?(D) he comments that the ?wisest among my race understand that the agitation of questions of social equality is the extremist folly, and that progress in the enjoyment of all the privileges that will come to us must be the result of severe and constant struggle rather than of artificial forcing.?(D) This statement, delivered at a time when Blacks and whites have separate water fountains(J), almost one-hundred and forty Black people were lynched(C), and forty-five to sixty percent of Blacks over the age of nine are illiterate(B), directly condemns the blunt complaining with which Du Bois is aligning himself. Return criticism is illustrated in The Souls of Black Folk, written by Du Bois in 1903. ?The way for a people to gain respect is not by continually belittling and ridiculing themselves; that, on the contrary, Negroes must insist continually, in season and out of season?(E) as written by Du Bois seems to be a direct response to the 1895 infamous address of Washington. With Jim Crow laws in effect, Du Bois position seems to be the more fitting and proper of the two. The ideology of Washington promotes unity ?in all things essential to mutual progress,?(D) but in comparison to Du Bois stand point in the early twentieth century he comes across as merely a sell out. Thus, W.E.B. Du Bois is the more highly regarded and esteemed of the two based on his fervent advocating of Black rights. The impending question plaguing the Black community is that of equal opportunity within the realms of education. Both Washington and Du Bois receive college level education's, but Washington's is merely vocational training versus the Harvard Ph.D. held by Du Bois. Advocacy of Washington for industrial education is grounded in his training. Washington sees the training for ?what is practical? and ?what will best fit?(G) as teaching the arts of ?farming, blacksmithing, carpentering?(G) to Blacks. These things are good, but they result in Negroes ?spending time studying about the things which might had been or might be,?(I) according to historian Carter Woodson. Washington also receives contempt from activist Ida Wells Barnett, who regards his ?industrial education for the Negro? as his ?hobby?(H). Du Bois, on the other hand, acknowledges the efforts being made to ?curtail the educational opportunities of the colored children?(F) and he sees ?the most meager chance for developing. . .exceptional men?(E) within the Black community. Du Bois observations