Compare And Contrast Booker T. Washington And W. E. B. Dubois

Booker T. Washington and W. E. B. Du Bois were both African-American men who played huge roles in the civil rights movement. They both wanted equality for blacks in the United States, but they had very different views on how they should achieve it. Being two of the most influential African-Americans of their time, the men had the ability to mold the opinions of their followers. With two prominent men varying so greatly in their ideologies, they caused a huge rift in the African-American community. One half of the community stood with Washington, and they were considered to be more conservative. The other half, more liberal and what some called radical, veered to the left with Du Bois. Both men were very well-educated, and argued their beliefs well, and raised some great points, but I believe W. E. B. Du Bois had the better argument for how to help black advancement.

Washington was born in Virginia in 1856, as a slave. From a very young age, Washington knew that education was crucial. He was an excellent student, and after completing his own education, he decided to become a teacher, in order to try and educate others. He became the head of a vocational school in Alabama, where is was his mission to educate other African-American’s in the areas of “moral instruction” and give them “practical work skills”. Washington became very well-liked by not only other African-Americans, but also by some white southerners. Some white southerners did not trust Washington right away, but “he reassured whites that nothing in his educational program challenged white supremacy or offered economic competition with whites” (pbs). He was able to appeal to both races by advocating for blacks, but at the same time accept white