After the Civil War two very influential black leaders took the stage, Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. DuBois. Although never slaves themselves they heard firsthand from parents, grandparents and relations the struggle the African American slave endured. They had different philosophies on how to establish a black’s role in a society of whites.
Booker T. Washington, (1856-1915) believed that because education wasn’t as readily available and up to the same standards as was given to the whites, that the black persons should rise in the field of crafts, farming, and industry. By doing so Washington believed they would soon meld into society through hard work. Washington also was a pacifist. He felt confrontation with the whites would only lead to further discrimination and restrictions for blacks. He urged blacks to accept discrimination, and only by hard work, patience, enterprise and thrift would they receive the acceptance of whites. By doing so they would then be integrated into all walks of …show more content…
DuBois, (1868-1963) believed that sitting back was a fool's game. He believed in political action and a civil rights agenda. He felt change would only come if African Americans fought for it. Unlike Washington, DuBois thought that taking a back seat to discrimination would only increase it or never change it. He believed that higher education and public protests would be the only means to infiltrating the exclusive white society. In his many years as a civil rights leader he helped found the NAACP, (The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People). He believed that the “Talented Tenth”, a small group of college-educated blacks could change the perception of blacks and help them to integrate. He knew that the violence against blacks could not, as Washington believed, be accepted. He believed that the racism, lynchings, debt slavery, Jim Crow segregation laws, and race riots could no longer be ignored and these injustices must be stopped through
Booker T. Washington, (1856-1915) believed that because education wasn’t as readily available and up to the same standards as was given to the whites, that the black persons should rise in the field of crafts, farming, and industry. By doing so Washington believed they would soon meld into society through hard work. Washington also was a pacifist. He felt confrontation with the whites would only lead to further discrimination and restrictions for blacks. He urged blacks to accept discrimination, and only by hard work, patience, enterprise and thrift would they receive the acceptance of whites. By doing so they would then be integrated into all walks of …show more content…
DuBois, (1868-1963) believed that sitting back was a fool's game. He believed in political action and a civil rights agenda. He felt change would only come if African Americans fought for it. Unlike Washington, DuBois thought that taking a back seat to discrimination would only increase it or never change it. He believed that higher education and public protests would be the only means to infiltrating the exclusive white society. In his many years as a civil rights leader he helped found the NAACP, (The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People). He believed that the “Talented Tenth”, a small group of college-educated blacks could change the perception of blacks and help them to integrate. He knew that the violence against blacks could not, as Washington believed, be accepted. He believed that the racism, lynchings, debt slavery, Jim Crow segregation laws, and race riots could no longer be ignored and these injustices must be stopped through