Similarities Between Booker T. Washington And W. E. B. Du Bios

The early 1900’s were a pivotal time in American and black history. The Great Migration in response to booming industrial era, would see black’s contributing more economically, and in war time battles. In knowing that such trappings would not last forever, black leadership would be more important than ever to ensure that black Americans would not fall by the wayside once again in the aftermath. Two leaders, the already known Booker T. Washington, and the new literary intellectualist W.E.B. Du Bois, would work in their own ways to pursue the needs of black Americans. Washington and Du Bios had individual t approaches to the social, economic and political problems faced by black Americans, however both black leaders played necessary and important …show more content…
He would go on to gain his bachelor’s as well as a Ph.D., and eventually become even larger to black Americans, and the evolution of their culture through activism, and compilations of literary works in press and publication. His novel The Souls of Black Folk is renowned as one of the most critical works not only in terms of black literature, but in terms of American literature period. Du Boise had strong beliefs around the racial divide in American, and had little tolerance or patience for those who towed the line of the status quo; those who allowed for the continued disenfranchisement of black Americans, Jim Crow laws, the ability for whites to lynch blacks with no recourse, and the those who impede the attainment of active civil and political liberties for black’s by anyone, white or black (Hine, Hine, & Harrold, 2013, p. …show more content…
Washington believed that black lives would be better if they let go of any hopes for actual equality in relation to white privilege, and the best route to betterment lay in the vocational training that would allow blacks better opportunities in employment and financial prosperity. He also encouraged the development of black entrepreneurism as a way to solidify self-reliance and a self-generated economy within black communities. Alternatively, Du Bois believed that segregation would serve to strengthen white Americans, and their supremacist thinking and behavior toward blacks. He also believed that the color-line needed to be acknowledged by whites, and that their participation in eradicating it was integral to the institution and observance of black civil, political and economic rights, in all areas, but especially that of education as a base need for black Americans to have an equal footing amongst all Americans. Initially Du Bois was a Supporter of Washington, until he gained further education through school and travel. In The Souls of Black Folk, Du bois publically criticizes Washington for asking to relinquish their pursuit for higher education political power, and any insistence upon attainment of all civil rights afforded to their white counterparts (Hine, Hine, & Harrold, 2013, p.