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Kevin Ashu

APUSH /5

12/8/08

Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois, both early advocates of the civil rights movement,

drafted, instilled, and instituted appropriate strategies and solutions to the discrimination and ideals of

racial inferiority experienced by African-American Men and Women of the nineteenth and twentieth

Centuries. Despite having the same common goal (Universal Tolerance of the African-American Race).

Washington, condoned economic efficiency had a more gradual approach as opposed to Du Bois, whose

direction of thought involved immediate and total equality in both the political realm and economical.

For the time period thought (1870-1920), Washington approach was overall more effective and

appropriate, whilst Du Bois approach has more of a Martin Luther King feel. Both had an equal influence

over African-Americans in politics, but Washington always seemed to have the upperhand in white

politics. Washington’s proposals and ideals excel in education for the greater majority of African-

Americans while Du Bois was noted for achieving true respect for the African-American community for

the white Americans.

During the ninetieth and twentieth centuries, politics was completely dominated by White-

Americans, especially in the Southern States! Du Bois urged African-Americans to involve themselves in

politics. Because only in gaining high respected African-American political spokesmen would Blacks be

able to acquire rights. Political association would prevent blacks from falling behind “Because when the

Negro found himself deprived of influences in politics, therefore, and at the same time unprepared to

participate In the higher functions in the industrial development which this country began, he begins

losing the ground in the basic things of life.” (Document I) Du Bois also directly challenged Washington

when he stated that the way for people to gain their reasonable rights is not by throwing them away,

and insisting they do not want them (Document E) Du Bois also goes in to criticize that that the

principles of democratic government are losing ground, and social class distinctions are growing radically

(Document F). The political demands Du Bois makes go even further, he demands radical change, that

African-Americans must continuously uphold “season after season”. (Document E). These statements

ultimately lead to his downfall, and were unfavorable among white politicians. Under Washington’s

theory this “complaining” would decrease, he avoided political involvement.

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In the late nineteenth century, academically changes had begun. In 1880 the percentage of 5-20

year olds enrolled in school for whites was approx 66%, while the percent of blacks was roughly half of

that (28%), which was a vast improvement over just thirty years before when the number of blacks

enrolled in schools was fewer than 4% (Document A). The efforts of Washington towards academic

improval of blacks surely showed themselves at this time. Although there was more students enrolled,

their education system was far below whites, this explains why the literacy rate of white pop was at 10%

while population of blacks unable to read soared at 70% (Document B). Washington and Du Bois

recognized this, but took different paths. Washington believed that if blacks focused their attention on

striving economically they would eventually be given the rights they disserved. So he encouraged

attending schools like the Tuskegee Institute of Alabama (which he founded) where no time was wasted

on dead languages, or superfluous studies of any kind. Then he proposed working either industrially or

agriculturally since their education would be based on what is practical and what would best fit the

young people for work life (Document G).

Du Bois on the other hand, thought after a good education was recivied, only then can they

succeed. He believed along with others that industrial education would not stand African-Americans in

place of political, civil, and intellectual liberty (Document H) W.E.B Du Bois, however, is able to surpass

Washington in the area of overall respect and morality concerning white folk. Booker T. Washington

made a point that if blacks could prove themselves useful, they could achieve their rights. Washington

stated, “No race that has anything to contribute to the markets of the world is long in any degree

ostracized. It is important and right that all privileges of the laws be ours, but it is vastly more important

that we be prepared for the exercise of those privileges. The opportunity to earn a dollar in a factory just

now is worth infinitely more than the opportunity to spend a dollar in an opera house”. In theory,

Washington concluded that in order for African Americans to succeed, it was imperative for them to

befriend the white men. Only then would the struggle for blacks end. He continually sounds of begging

when stating to the white men: Casting down your bucket among my people, helping and encouraging

them as you are doing on these grounds, and to education of head, hand, and heart While doing this you

can be sure in the future, as in the past, that you and your families will be surrounded by the most

patient, faithful, law-abiding, and civil people that the world has seen. All this had been said in his

Atlanta Compromise Address in 1895 (Doc D). It was also apparent to everyone African American who

did not totally agree with Washington's idea that this was a sign of submission for the black race. The

submissive part was, if none else, the fact that we were to accept that black people were going to

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continue to use their hands as a means to be productive to a white society. Many blacks turned away

from such a statement and this is where W.E.B. Du Bois came to relieve them. Although Fortune stated,

It is impossible to estimate the value of such a man (Doc G), Du Bois rejected the philosophy of Booker T.

Washington declaring that he was condemning their race to manual labor and perpetual inferiority. He

argues that the way for a people to gain respect is not by continually belittling and ridiculing themselves

(Doc E). The De Facto segregation, such as a separate water fountain for colored only (Doc J) proposed

by Washington did alleviate white and black tension but nonetheless was degrading.

He presenteds that the “wisest “among the African-American race understand that the

disturbance 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 (Doc D). Barnett criticized that Washington; one of the most noted of their own race should join

with the enemies (Doc H). Such attitudes from Washington could truly be appreciated by Southern

whites who in no way would want to be equivalent to a Negro. Although both men approached the topic

differently, the advancement of civil rights would not be as far along today if it were not for both

simultaneous views. Each needed the other to achieve his agenda. However, the most experienced in

dealing with the sensitivity of the prejudices was Washington. He seemingly knew what buttons to push

and how far he could push them. Curiously, the year Washington gave his Atlanta Compromise Address

in 1895, the number of blacks lynched dropped from 170 the previous year to just above 120. It is also

interesting to note that after Du Bois gave his speech about The Niagara Movement in 1905, the

numbers began to steadily increase again (Doc C, D, F). Du Bois approach of ceaseless agitation, unfailing

exposure of dishonesty and wrong (Doc F) was not ready for the time where Washington is more

rational in his gradual approach. But both men gradually helped Blacks at the time gain rights, and made

the stepping stones for the Civil Rights movement- And ultimately Women’s Rights as well!

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be appreciated by Southern whites who in no way would want to be equivalent to a Negro