Booker T. Washington And W. E. B. Du Bois

The Slow Race to Equality Colin Powell once said, “A dream doesn’t become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hard work” (BrainyQuote). Creating success in the world is an accomplishment that not everyone is able to achieve but can be reached with motivation. Heart and soul must be poured into one’s aspiration for it to become a reality, otherwise, there is no further progress. Powell’s message suggests this viewpoint in the sense that he believes no action will take place unless true dedication is put forth. This way of thinking can be applied to the times of the early to mid 1900s when equality was not in existence, and racial segregation was a societal norm, especially between the whites and blacks. Inhumane ideals

Du Bois took charge when it came to racial segregation. These activists used their pasts to strengthen arguments and provide personal connections to inequality, some more passive while others were aggressive. Even though fighting for equality was a shared goal, Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois displayed opposing viewpoints regarding racial segregation, since Booker T. focused on economic self-improvement while W.E.B. concentrated on civil rights.

Booker T. Washington was an African American man of leadership and success who worked his way from the bottom and managed to rise up - as far as his race would allow him to. Born into slavery, Washington grew up in Franklin County, Virginia and worked intensely for long hours on a plantation and toted heavy sacks. At this point in time, his future was nowhere in sight. According to biography.com, his eager young man wanted to break free from the classic slave and become educated, just as other children were, though he knew deep inside that it was illegal for a slave to be taught literacy. After the civil war, things began to turn around as Booker T. Washington moved cities with his mother, where he worked as a houseboy instead of going to school. However, he was eventually allowed to be educated. In 1872, he left slavery for good to

Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois are considered to be two of the most powerful African American leaders when it comes to black public affairs. Although two very different people with conflicting philosophies, both activists were able to reach the same goal: equality. This exemplifies how despite coming from different backgrounds, individuals can still understand where others are coming from. For example, both Washington and Du Bois both pushed for equality by advocating their beliefs. Also, both Washington and Du Bois were well-known to the general public, becoming prominent figures of society. On the other hand, while being a part of the same movement, Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois often clashed opinions with each other due to having such strong views, according to history.com. A vital reason for this is because of the way the activists were raised. As the result of being a slave during childhood, Washington developed the mindset of being careful while opposing other beliefs. He was trained to always be smart with his actions, since by acting out, there is a possibility of being killed through the process of lynching. Because of this, Washington took a passive approach, peacefully protesting for his people’s rights and urging blacks to accept discrimination before fighting back (“Booker T. Washington”). During this time, he also wanted his followers to make allies with other races. Greatly differing from Washington, W.E.B. Du Bois had a desire