At a time when the black community was being afforded a free status, but not one of equality, many leaders arose to appeal to the white governing body for social equality. The transition from the nineteenth century to the twentieth century gave birth to two of these leaders, Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois. Although these two remarkable men were both in search of a common goal, their roads leading to this goal were significantly different. This is most evident in Booker T. Washington’s The Atlanta Exposition Address and W.E.B. Du Bois response to this, The Souls of Black Folk. Booker T. Washington’s gradualism stance gives him a popular appeal among both blacks and whites, although W.E.B. Du Bois has the upper hand when it came to ideology dealing with economic prosperity among blacks.
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 caution, in doing so he not only comes across as an advocate of Blacks gaining “all privileges of the law”(Up from Slavery, 457), but also of Blacks being prepared “for the exercises of these privileges.”(457) By taking this approach Washington is gaining the appeal within the black community as well as the white community. In contrast to this effective stance, Du Bois asks constantly 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”( The Souls of Black Folk 563 ) he feels will do more in the fight for equality than “voluntarily throwing away”(563) 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.
The Dissertation on Gale Group Bois Black Washington
W. E. B. Du Bois Few men have influenced the lives of African-Americans as much as William Edward Burghardt (W. E. B. ) Du Bois is considered more of a history-maker than a historian (Aptheker, "The Historian"). Dr. Du Bois conducted the initial research on the black experience in the United States. Civil rights leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr. have referred to Du Bois as a father of the ...
In Washington’s Atlanta Compromise Address 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.”(457) This statement, delivered at a time when blacks and whites have separate water fountains, blacks were lynched, and the majority of blacks were illiterate, directly condemns the blunt complaining with which Du Bois is supporting. Du Bois criticism is illustrated in The Souls of Black Folk; “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.”(560) This seems to be a direct response to Washington’s address. The ideology of Washington promotes unity “in all things essential to mutual progress” (459) , but in comparison to Du Bois stand point in the early twentieth century he comes across as merely a sell out. Therefore, W.E.B. Du Bois is the more highly regarded and respected of the two based on his passionate advocating of Black rights.
In Washington’s speech he asked for whites to provide jobs and education for African Americans. In exchange, blacks would give up demands for social equality and civil rights. His message to African Americans was that political and social equality were less important. Washington believed that if they proved themselves useful to whites, then civil rights and social equality would eventually be given to them. Blacks were urged to work to prove to whites that all blacks were not worthless. By doing so, Washington believed, African Americans could earn full citizenship rights. He advised blacks to trust the southern whites and accept their control. He stressed the mutual interdependence of blacks and whites in the South, but said they were to remain socially separate: “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 progress.”(458) Blacks, DuBois believed, should not have to sacrifice their constitutional rights in order to achieve a status that was already guaranteed.
The Essay on Black Women White Men Social
WHAT'S BEHIND THE ESCALATING TREND? AS we head into the new millennium, marrying mitt dating across cultural lines seem to be increasing at record rates. Almost anywhere you go these days, you will encounter mixed-race couples: at the grocery store, the mall, the theater, at a company function, at: a concert, even at church. And while for years the Black man-White woman couple was more prevalent, ...
Both men realize the impending crisis and the harmful effects disregarding these problems will have on the future. Although Washington and Du Bois offer different strategies for dealing with the problems, they succeed in continuing the Civil Rights Movement.Washington, being the more passive activist was favored by both races. However Du Bois wins the majority of the Black community with his aggressive ideology.
