Booker T. and W.E.B Conformity and rebellion are two separate entities. This was not the case during the 18th and early 19th century. This time period witness a sudden change in the stance of a slave. The slave was now free in America which caused a great upheaval on the role that the “new free man” should take in America’s economy. Two sides were drawn between whether the “new free man” should continue to work for the white man or should pursue education. Two great men named, Booker T. Washington and W.E.B Dubois, took leadership and stated their stance on the current issues concerning the “new free man”. In the poem, “Booker T. and W.E.B” by Dudley Randall, this new era of segregation is clearly being discussed, were blacks and whites had to figure out a way to live as “equals”. Many African Americans who were previous slaves continued working for the white man while others sought education and political refugee. This new age of intertwining and viewing the previous slaves as men left the nation in a rumble drawing a clear line between what a “free man” should and should not do. Consequently, the idea of conformity and rebellion arises as these strong historical speakers portray their thoughts on either side of the spectrum. Booker T asserts his ideas of conformity while W.E.B …show more content…
The stanzas always starts with “It seems to me,” said Booker T” or “I don’t agree,” said W.E.B”. This shows how intense and deep the issues of this time is and how emotionally attached the speakers are to the issues because they always have something to say right after the other one. The envoi concluding the poem did the same to show how this argument is ongoing and does not end at that argument presented in the poem. This also shows how where there is conformity there is rebellion because the speakers are constantly going back and forth on their ideas showing how conformity is perpetuating