DuBois and Washington on Education Essays

Booker T. Washington was slave who became a self-made man. William E.B. DuBois was a northerner with a New England background e had his P.H.D. from Harvard University. Booker T. Washington's philosophy was the concern of the African Americans it was tempered by his belief in concerning the role of African Americans was tempered by his belief in “settlement”. He honestly felt that if the African Americans race ignored the discrimination, and concentrated on their economic future, that their political rights would in fact follow. He believed in no shame in manual labor. Mr. W.E.B. DuBois strongly believed that the African American race should have limited themselves to vocational labor but to defiantly educate themselves to have knowledge and know all their rights to be a citizen. He rejected the idea of “settlement’ and felt that would happen through political equality (voting rights), and the African Americans achieve economic and social equality. DeBois philosophy had more active meaning to it when being compared with the philosophy of Booker T.

Booker T. Washington (1856, 1915) and William Edward Burghardt Dubois (1868, 1963), were the two most influential black leaders in their time. They were the sole voices of the Negro race. They were like red and green apple. Much like apples they may both be the same, but they both have different tastes in the direction of the Negro.

Continuing with the famous debate between Washington and DuBois, DuBois argues in "The Training of Black Men" that by training blacks for economic usefulness was not

This philosophy came from his belief that if the Negro could be viewed as economically essential first, then they would able to gain the respect needed to be socially and politically equal. Washington believed in "slow and natural growth" (Washington, 163) and that baby steps, beginning with industrial skill, would eventually bring America to egalitarianism. He sought to lay a "foundation of the race through a generous education of the hand, head, and heart" (Washington, 59). In order for the black race to first make an impact economically, they had to provide a service so essential to life that this action would demand respect. This respect for their economic value would then bleed into other aspects of life, socially and politically. Washington sought to provide the basis of this esteem that would lead to social equality.

Frederick Douglass and W.E.B DuBois were both key figures in the advancements of black education. Although they had very similar thoughts regarding African Americans’ rights to education, they failed to meet exactly on the importance of equality in education. Frederick Douglass defined education as one of the “chief advantages of freedom” (Douglass). He encouraged freed slaves to actively pursue their education so that they may also pursue their own freedom and self-sufficiency. The time of ignorance that had been previously enforced on them by slave-owners was over, and their new possibilities of knowledge would lead them to “an equal chance with all other men in the common race of life and in the pursuit of happiness” (Douglass).

Washington believes that blacks, starting with so little, would have to begin at the bottom and work up gradually to achieve positions of power and responsibility. DuBois understands Washington’s program, but believes that this is not the solution. DuBois shows opposition to Washington’s approach, not his intent.

Du Bois however could not remain silenced because he felt the need to aware others of the flaws within Washington's plan. In his doctrine, Washington focused on industrial education rather than higher education for African Americans. According to Washington, by doing this African Americans would win the respect of whites since they could provide something that the whites highly demanded. Du Bois, on the other hand, points out that by having the Negro youth concentrate on industrial education, it deprived those with the possibility of becoming great leaders the proper education needed to fulfill their destiny. It was imperative to provide this type of education to the Negro youth because without educated leaders there would not be anyone to properly fight for the rights of future African American generations. Aside from asking African Americans to give up higher education, Washington also asked that they surrender their political and civil rights. He urged them to accept discrimination in hopes of becoming integrated into the white communities. This belief of African American assimilation lead to "the disfranchisement of the Negro" and established "a distinct status of civil inferiority for the Negro." Du Bois criticized Washington for advocating the submission and inferiority of American Negroes instead of fighting for their

W.E.B. DuBois was one of the most important African-American activists during the first half of the 20th century. He co-founded the NAACP and supported Pan-Africanism. DuBois believed that blacks should fight for their rights by being intellectual and

Booker T. Washington believed in “self-help.” He encouraged economic independence over liberal arts. He prefered people of the community to show their productive skills as members of society. He had great hope that this would lead to equality. He also encouraged blacks to accept discrimination and segregation. He believed that “eventually” a change would come and urged them to focus

Brooker T. Washington and W.E.B DuBois had very differing views on creating racial equality in the United States, Washington believing that blacks should work to acquire economic freedom and a greater education while DuBois believed that only the vote could save them from a“second slavery.” Washington had the better solution to the issue; if blacks could show whites that they could be valuable members of the workforce, while still experiencing segregation, they would win the respect of whites, which would then lead to them getting civil rights. DuBois’ solution of forcing black suffrage down the white population’s throat, a white population that hadn’t got used to blacks being free, would only

Financially, DuBois sought to help the African-American man to prosper. DuBois’s focus is to encourage African-Americans should attend colleges and institutions. The purpose is to not only work for money, but also, to learn about the world from different lenses. DuBois categorized African Americans into four economic classes from the talented tenth to the criminals. From Johnson and Watson’s article, “The W.E.B. Dubois and Booker T Washington Debate,” the two men claim, “His work focused on four social classes within the city. The upper class or aristocrats were the

W.E.B. DuBois and Booker T. Washington both strived for the same goal, the end of discrimination against African Americans. Washington opted for a more passive way of fighting back, while DuBois advocated for a more abrupt and hostile way of protesting. Overall, both men desired equality, but I feel Washington’s methods were the best for the well-being of African Americans. Furthering one’s education to go out into the workforce and obtain a quality job would show the white population that African Americans were able to benefit the United States. They are assisting themselves and are also progressively combatting discrimination. Even though the acceptance would take time, the end result would be worth it. Meanwhile, DuBois promoted that education

W.E.B. Dubois main focus was on the advancement of color people. He co-founded the NAACP. Du Bois has a theory that one and ten black men can become leaders of their race. He called this the “the talented tenth” Du Bois thought that African American should have the natural right of having equal rights and abilities.

Washington believed that black people should try to improve labor and service instead of always calling for equality. As the first Africa-American talked aloud to the public, he made the United States to rethink the issue of race relationship. Washington laid stress on black and white could be two single parts, however, we should also be together as a country to best improve our benefits. He said black people could do service, basic jobs, and satisfy white. Together with that, they could also work like white man to use the rest resource to do mental work. His speech was a big move in American race issue, even though other black leaders were not supporting

He emphasizes this by stating “this is the curriculum of that Higher Education which must underlie true life. On this foundation we may build bread winning, skill of hand and quickness of brain”(DuBois). Washington, on the other hand, believes the negro should be educated on their desired specialty skill. He states “They do not put into their hands the tools they are best fitted to use, and hence so many failures” (Washington). Washington’s view on education differs from DuBois because he believes education should be geared towards the kind of work the negro will be