There are numerous strategies for progression that can be traced back to the end of the nineteenth century through the beginning of the twentieth century in regards to civil rights, racial equalities, and the course of action that would bring the African Americans beyond citizenship and into the forefront of the nation. Of these different methods towards the goal of progression, there were two African American men who, although both were seeking the same inevitable end to the progress, approached the methods on polar opposites and through the eyes of opposing upbringings and educational backgrounds. These two men who operated during the same time period and authored books only two years apart, but the tone of these two pieces of literature appear to be from separate time periods at times during the works.
The historical context of each of the authors, although both raised during the era of active slavery and the establishment of civil rights for the African Americans, were dramatically different and this was viewed by the readers as each author brought with them their own experiences and relayed those experiences through their literary works. Specifically, W.E. B. DuBois’s “Souls of Black Folk,” and Booker T. Washington’s “Up from Slavery,” both outlined a plan for progress and pressed for the eventual equality based on race but the methods recommended for this progress and the defining factors for equality different greatly between the two men.
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"Progression in Dubois and Washington".
Based on their own histories, both Washington and DuBois found that education was an important part of the progression of the African Americans towards the possibility of equality. For example, Washington believed that education would create an equal front from which the African American could prove himself through knowledge and hard work. He anticipated that being self-sufficient would make a greater life for the black community and prove to the white community that the African Americans could contribute to society. He focused on these skills at his school and “the industries at Tuskegee have been started in natural and logical order, growing out of the needs of a community settlement. We began with farming, because we wanted something to eat” (Washington 584). However, DuBois focused more on the financial equality that should be gained through education rather than the recognition of equality when he stated that “we have vaguely said that Education will set this tangle straight, what have we uttered but a truism? Training for life teaches living; but what training for the profitable living together of black men and white?” (DuBois 712). Although the emphasis in both methods focused on education, the purpose for the knowledge and the extent of the learning differed in both.
Additionally, although both men were in search of equality, their concepts of true equality was very different. Booker T. Washington realized, that through the years of enslavement and civil injustices, the black community had not learned to enjoy the privileges of the desired equalities and that this knowledge and equality must come due to result of severe and constant struggle rather than of artificial forcing (Washington 597). He also desired for the entirety of the race to benefit from the uprising of the African Americans. This was different than the concepts of W.E.B. DuBois who believed that only a small portion of the race had the ability to achieve and deserve equality. DuBois claimed that Washington’s concept of being self-sufficient and earning one’s way into equality resembled a scenario where one would “induce black men to believe that if their stomachs be full, it matters little about their brains” (DuBois 721 ). He continued to explain that the upper ten percent of the race was more than prepared to separate from the rest of the African Americans and take their place among the top one tenth of the white race in terms of intelligence and equality.
In terms of one or the other being more effective throughout the transformations of a nation’s response to equality, both of the viewpoints added to the cause and most likely could not have made the changes that have come about through individual attempts. However, when looking at the passive approach that Booker T. Washington focused on, it was the self-sufficiency and determination of individuals within the race that eventually led to the increased capabilities and opportunities for the race as a whole. However, if only passive approaches would have been made, then many issues would not have come to the forefront. If the method of DuBois would have been followed independently, many members of the African American race would have been left behind. Although a combination of the two made a significant impact, it was Washington who brought up the entire race.
DuBois was more focused on individual entitlement as opposed to Washington’s collectivism approach. Therefore, the concepts of the current reparations movement which feels that the families of former slaves should receive some form of monetary compensation based on their ancestors labor, would be more in line with DuBois’s aggressive approach. Based on his philosophies that it is important to make a stand and make it known versus Washington’s approach to learning and earning respect and equality, DuBois would be more likely to promote such a movement during modern society. However, Washington would not turn away financial support for the race if it was to be used for the education and betterment of the entirety of the race.
As Washington saw firsthand the harshness that was involved in slavery and the humility that came with inequalities, it would be assumed that he would have the more aggressive approach that his adversary W.E.B. DuBois who grew up free and in a predominately white environment. The cruelty did not harden Washington to the ways of the world, but instead made him eager to learn and move forward alongside other members of his race. W.E.B. DuBois used his status and confidence in order to make an aggressive stand against inequalities. Both men brought important information and experience to the cause as eventually, through their methods, equality was achieved.
- DuBois, W.E.B. The Souls of Black Folk. 1 Feb 1903. The Norton Anthology of African
American Literature. Ed. Henry Louis Gates Jr. & Nellie Y. Kay. New York: W.W.
Norton 2004, 1997. 692-766. Print. - Washington Booker “Up from Slavery ” The Norton Anthology of African American Literature.
Ed. Henry Louis Gates Junior, Nellie Y. McKay.New York/London :W.W. Norton &
Company 2004, 1997. 572-602. Print.
