W. E. B. Dubois During The Progressive Era

W.E.B. DuBois is generally regarded as one of greatest African-American scholars and civil rights activist in American history. But one issue troubling historians is their personal portrait of DuBois in their works. No one questioned his resume, the brilliant African-American scholar, author, and civil rights activist during the Progressive Era. In the discussion of DuBois, one controversial issue has been a debate over his personality. One the one hand, some historians argue that he was an elitist intellectual, contradicting, and his solutions to race relations were unrealistic. It helps explains his rivals such as Booker T. Washington, whom he clashed with during the Progressive Era as both men debated the future for African-Americans. One …show more content…
DuBois’s American Jeremiad in the Progressive Era” discusses W.E.B. DuBois evolution as a person during that period. He explains his transition as an academic to one of the most influential civil rights activists of the twentieth century. By highlighting DuBois endeavors as a Progressive Era reformer, he was able to show the early years of the American Civil Rights Movement. From citing DuBois’s critically acclaimed work such as the “Souls of Black Folks”, Howard-Pitney describes a DuBois on a mission to help his people. Refuting the constant criticism of DuBois as an elitist, Howard-Pitney’s describes his upbringing and how it allowed him to notice racial difference at a young age. Because of his experiences, he was inspired to disprove the wrong stereotypes of African-Americans by succeeding himself. By infusing his involvement in the founding of the NAACP and discussing his various personal beliefs, Howard-Pitney sheds light to a different DuBois, one who was able to combat the belief into Booker T. Washington’s ideology on African-Americans. Basically, Washington argued that Blacks should work together and give up on racial integration. DuBois foresaw that a partnership between Blacks and Whites in protesting racism can stop it. Eventually his belief won over Washington’s rhetoric and African-Americans worked more with Whites in denunciating racism. His work in the National Advancement Association for Colored People (NAACP) proved that he was