Washington and Du Bois

Paper Summary:

This paper analyzes, compares and contrasts their beliefs and writings of African American authors Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois. The paper demonstrates how the two were as different in their attitude toward racial progress as they were in their styles of writing. While both men wrote about race and were concerned with bettering the plight of African Americans, the paper explains that they had very different philosophies about how to accomplish social change. Citing their writing, the paper argues that Washington believed the acquisition of jobs for Blacks was most important, because economic freedom would automatically about social and cultural change. Du Bois, on the other hand, believed in careful political organization and individual action for the improvement of the community and the betterment of society at large. The paper concludes with an analysis of Du Bois' theory on double-consciousness, relating it to contemporary author Jean Toomer, a protege of Du Bois.

From the Paper:

"Du Bois was committed to an integrationist vision combined with an assertion of a proud cultural heritage; he had a vision of a certain role that the black man should fill in Americans in society; and he believed in full civil liberties, the abolition of racial discrimination. Both men were interested in education. Du Bois believed that education should nurture the growth of culture and felt that education and a university system could transform personal and racial relationships, while Washington favored vocational training for Blacks. Booker T. Washington's "up from slavery" was an overly optimistic account of his life and of race relations in America; it followed the lines of his general philosophy of trusting the paternalism of the southern whites, accepting the fact of white supremacy and accommodating white oppression. Washington emphasized the mutual interdependence of blacks and whites in the south but also felt that they were to remain socially separated."

More papers on Washington and Du Bois:

• Research Paper # 96448 : "Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois"
• Essay # 74457 : "W.E.B. Du Bois"
• Essay # 64638 : "William Edward Burghardt Du Bois (1868-1963)"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: