Washington vs. Dubois

Kristi Klabuhn
AMH M/W/F 10:30 am
DUE: Jan 29, 2010
Booker T. Washington rose as a leader, in an attempt to bring peace between African-Americans and whites. Washington's solution to accommodation with the white power structure was taken to heart by many followers. His program's goals was to promote industrial education, conciliation of the South, and submission and silence as to civil and political rights. He proved to be extremely persuasive through his extreme enthusiasm, excessive energy, and unending faith. His first task was to gain the sympathy and cooperation of the various elements that were comprising the South. His other task was to work on gaining place and consideration in the North. Washington wanted economical equality more than anything; he was willing to let the civil inequality to be tolerated so that they had hopes of getting equality sooner.
DuBois, on the other hand, believed that African-Americans needed entire equality and that they should get it by any means necessary. Through every peaceful method, he clung to the words of America's Fathers written in the Declaration of Independence: “We hold these truths to be self evident: That all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” DuBois felt that Washington failed to stand up for the words of our Founding Fathers; instead, promoting a “surrender” to white violence and oppression. DuBois didn't agree with his economic focus, feeling that too much effort was put into money and work, which overshadow the higher goals in life. As diversity became more and more apparent, the tension between races were intensified. Washington's program basically accepted this alleged inferiority, and it advocated submission against racism and inferiority. Other races and groups of people have doctrines that preach that self-respect is worth more than land and homes; those who surrender...