Booker T. Washington Vs. W. E. B. Du Bois: The Collision Of Equal Views Equality; noun, the state of being equal, especially in status, rights, and opportunities. Since before Christopher Columbus sailed the ocean blue - in 1492 - slavery and inequality has been one of the biggest standing issues all over the world. Particularly in America, slavery began the minute the British came to America. They held the Native Americans in slavery and forced them to move and assimilate, and that’s just the beginning. Soon after, African men and women were brought to America and kept as slaves for hundreds of years. For a country that dubbed itself the land of the free, this does not seem to be equal nor free at all. Two advocates for equality were Booker
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Booker T. Washington was said to have great potential as a child even though he was born a slave to his mother, a cook on a plantation (“Booker T. Washington.”). But, W.E.B. Du Bois was not, he was actually born in a mostly European village in Massachusetts where he rarely came across racism until the Jim Crow laws were put in place(“W.E.B. Du Bois.”). Just the difference in growing up a slave or not drastically changed the way that they both grew up and viewed the world. Both men grew up to be extremely influential and put in high places of respect. But, surprisingly, even though Washington grew up as a slave, he had a more peaceful approach to the subject matter. Whereas Du Bois, who did not grow up a slave, had a more violent and forceful approach to the matter. The contrast in their views cause a mutual hatred between the …show more content…
They both used their entire career and life to create equality for all. Du Bois used more forceful things like publishing books, giving speeches, and creating movements like the Niagara movement (Blatty). For example, in David Blatty’s article, W.E.B. Du Bois, Booker T. Washington and the Origins of the Civil Rights Movement, he states, “Believing that political action and agitation were the only way to achieve equality, in 1905 Du Bois and other black intellectuals founded a “radical” political group called Niagara, which was dedicated to the cause.” Washington used things like fundraisers and his high government power to make points (Blatty). The similarities between both people may have been few and far between but they were still visible. Both were fighting for equality and rights for all. Both had high respect from others and a large following. Both were leaders and good examples for those below them. Even with completely different views on how to solve slavery, Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois were some of the most influential equal rights activists of all time. Each individual addressed the biggest issue of the time: racism and inequality. They fought for everything they believed in against those who strongly disagreed. They created a stronger awareness for each and every person. They fought for a better world, and in
Booker T. Washington was said to have great potential as a child even though he was born a slave to his mother, a cook on a plantation (“Booker T. Washington.”). But, W.E.B. Du Bois was not, he was actually born in a mostly European village in Massachusetts where he rarely came across racism until the Jim Crow laws were put in place(“W.E.B. Du Bois.”). Just the difference in growing up a slave or not drastically changed the way that they both grew up and viewed the world. Both men grew up to be extremely influential and put in high places of respect. But, surprisingly, even though Washington grew up as a slave, he had a more peaceful approach to the subject matter. Whereas Du Bois, who did not grow up a slave, had a more violent and forceful approach to the matter. The contrast in their views cause a mutual hatred between the …show more content…
They both used their entire career and life to create equality for all. Du Bois used more forceful things like publishing books, giving speeches, and creating movements like the Niagara movement (Blatty). For example, in David Blatty’s article, W.E.B. Du Bois, Booker T. Washington and the Origins of the Civil Rights Movement, he states, “Believing that political action and agitation were the only way to achieve equality, in 1905 Du Bois and other black intellectuals founded a “radical” political group called Niagara, which was dedicated to the cause.” Washington used things like fundraisers and his high government power to make points (Blatty). The similarities between both people may have been few and far between but they were still visible. Both were fighting for equality and rights for all. Both had high respect from others and a large following. Both were leaders and good examples for those below them. Even with completely different views on how to solve slavery, Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois were some of the most influential equal rights activists of all time. Each individual addressed the biggest issue of the time: racism and inequality. They fought for everything they believed in against those who strongly disagreed. They created a stronger awareness for each and every person. They fought for a better world, and in