At the turn of the 20th century, many black activists began to act profoundly. There are two most notable activists whose work impacted much of society. Those two are W.E.B. DuBois and Booker T. Washington. Through the work of W.E.B. DuBois, he has fought passionately for the complete equality of African Americans and has most greatly impacted the society and altered the status of African Americans today. Booker T. Washington played major roles in proposing his ideas among the black community. In his autobiography, “Up From Slavery,” Washington begins to lay down the premise and foundations of his Atlanta Plan (Document 1 & 2). Washington describes the journey of obtaining this equality as one that requires a lot of difficulties and hard …show more content…
He suggested that African Americans should rethink their professions and see that value behind common labor. Furthermore, he stated that in order for African Americans to prosper, they must learn how to make the best out of simple common labor. Washington’s Atlanta plan sought to give up political rights in order to obtain basic education rights. Washington believed that African Americans required common labor schools that would teach them a trade for them to be able to utilize simple skills to begin their climb to eventual equality. Washington eventually brought this plan into realization upon his founding of Tuskegee College. A college focused mainly on teaching attendees a trade or a skill. By allowing African Americans to hone their craft in a specific trade, Washington believed that this would integrate them into society and generate much-needed cooperation between the races and a gradual gain of equality. The upbringings of Washington play a key part in formulating the basis of his argument. This factor generates a sense of bias from when Washington was born. Washington was born into slavery and was able to receive basic education. This however made it difficult for his life because he had to tend to his duties as a slave and as a student. …show more content…
In 2010, the average percentage of students between white and black high school graduates that will enroll in a two year or four-year college are very close, with only about ~1-3% difference between the two. Especially notably, the enrollment rates of blacks are above 60%. Way more than DuBois’s expected “10%.” Du Bois's idea of obtaining secondary and higher level education proved to be correct and