Booker T. Washington Vs W. E. B Dubois

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Reconstruction was a period in the United States history immediately following the civil war in which the federal government set the conditions that would allow the rebellious southern states back into the union. Also during that time 4 million African American men and women were released from slavery with nothing and with no one to turn to. They were released into a society that looked down upon them; a society where they were once considered property. Booker T. Washington and W.E.B Dubois had different views on how African Americans should go about equality. Washington believed that the freed African Americans should focus on bettering themselves and show that they can be a contributing factor to society while Dubois believed that they should fight for equality before they could get a fair share of the economic pie (ushistory.org). However, both brought success and have opened doors for …show more content…
Washington worked hard and watched what the white men were doing and applied it to his life in areas such as education, the way they dressed and the way they spoke. He went on to make himself acceptable to Whites due to all of the success he endured. When W.E.B Dubois graduated in 1884, Booker T. Washington had already founded the Tuskegee Institute 3 years prior. Dubois became a prominent voice when he challenged Booker T. Washington’s “Atlanta Compromise” saying that he was accepting segregation.
W.E.B Dubois challenged Booker T. Washington stated that African Americans must have political and social equality now to prevail economically or to get a piece of the economic pie. That’s easy to say when he didn’t have to work as a child and always had the privilege and support to go school.
Education was the improved accomplishment that would be the key for African Americans and poor whites to better their lives and make themselves socially acceptable. During reconstruction “many African Americans were attracted to the vision of progress and

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