Booker T. Washington vs. W.E.B DuBois
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Segregation of African american had been present in the United States since the early 1600’s. In the mid-nineteenth century, African American leaders have proposed many different theories and methods to address the injustices posed by the white majority on to the African American population. The individuals who led the fight against discrimination includes Booker T. Washington and William E.B, who took completely different approaches in order to deal with this unfair treatment of African Americans. Du Bois. Booker T. Washington took a more gradual approach towards African American equality while Du Bois took a more immediate stance. His approach was appropriate for the time because he advocated for African American’s rights right after the Civil War while there was an infinite amount of hard feelings towards former slaves. W.E.B Du Bois’ approach was too extreme for his time. When he advocated for the rights of African American’s it was about twenty years after the Civil War. Even twenty years later there were still great amounts of ill will towards former slaves. Du Bois tried to force his ideas on whites too much too fast. He wanted instant gratification while Washington settled for the long term. Despite their differences, both Booker T. Washington and William E.B. Du Bois took steps to improve their fellow African Americans’ lives from 1877-1915.
W.E.B. DuBois and Booker T. Washington were two of the most notable leaders who advocated as black assimilation into white America through the education of the black community. They encouraged black individuals to blend into society by becoming skilled workers. They also believed that by doing so the black community would be accepted by whites and would raise in social level. According to Document A, the school enrollment by race was much lower for blacks in the period before when Washington and Du Bois became a great impact on the educational system. Beginning around 1905, there was an upward spike in Black schooled children which is credited to the efforts and influence from Washington and Du Bois. From 1890-1910, the percentage of illiteracy in blacks decreased by over half as shown in Document B. Du Bois and Washington also helped reduce the racial discriminations against blacks. Based on document F, to urge on racial discrimination Du Bois founded the Niagara Movement in 1905. The fecal matter hardened...