Throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the Civil Rights Movement was growing, and hundreds of important African American figures began to fight to secure the rights of not only African Americans, but women and other minorities. Two important leaders and activists of the movement set the foundation for civil rights; these two individuals were W. E. B. Du Bois and Booker T. Washington. Both had very contrasting ideologies and grew up under different conditions, but both fought for the same cause and earned minorities their rights. Though the two activists battled for the same freedoms, Du Bois and Washington opposed one another and had different methods for obtaining equality. Childhood and education, ideologies, and social impact
…show more content…
Du Bois and Booker T. Washington were the biggest influences on the Civil Rights Movement, but both had very different approaches to fight for their rights with opposing ideologies. Considering Washington grew up as a slave and was raised to believe that those of color must succumb to those who were white, his beliefs were reflected throughout his side of the movement. He often explained that people of color should obey what the white Southerners insisted until minorities’ civil rights were fully earned. Washington did not think that slavery or discrimination was in anyway fair, but he thought resisting to what the whites wanted would show lack of dignity and would lead to even more problems. Du Bois’s ideas contrasted Washington’s in the sense that African Americans must obey whites. Du Bois believed that not only African Americans, but other minorities have been treated horribly and deserve similar circumstances as white men. He encouraged colored people to get educated and continually fight for their civil rights until they were fully earned. Both activists did want the movement to end with minorities rightfully earning the equality they deserved. Washington and Du Bois were fighting the same fight, but due to their very different backgrounds, they approached the Civil Rights Movement in two completely different ways. (Blatty, Jones, Costly,
Du Bois and Booker T. Washington were the biggest influences on the Civil Rights Movement, but both had very different approaches to fight for their rights with opposing ideologies. Considering Washington grew up as a slave and was raised to believe that those of color must succumb to those who were white, his beliefs were reflected throughout his side of the movement. He often explained that people of color should obey what the white Southerners insisted until minorities’ civil rights were fully earned. Washington did not think that slavery or discrimination was in anyway fair, but he thought resisting to what the whites wanted would show lack of dignity and would lead to even more problems. Du Bois’s ideas contrasted Washington’s in the sense that African Americans must obey whites. Du Bois believed that not only African Americans, but other minorities have been treated horribly and deserve similar circumstances as white men. He encouraged colored people to get educated and continually fight for their civil rights until they were fully earned. Both activists did want the movement to end with minorities rightfully earning the equality they deserved. Washington and Du Bois were fighting the same fight, but due to their very different backgrounds, they approached the Civil Rights Movement in two completely different ways. (Blatty, Jones, Costly,