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

858 Words4 Pages

In the era of 1920’s and 30’s; Black-America witnessed a rivalry between none other than Booker T. Washington and W.E.B Du Bois. This changed the navigation of society and was the birth of the Civil Rights Movement. Even though they were born in the same era, their views on African-American living standards differed in a few ways. Their upbringing and differences of methods is what shaped Black-America into what it is today. The main disagreement between the two philosophers was the issue of black suffrage. Dubois felt that un-educated blacks didn't deserve a vote. Without an education, he believed that there would be no economic gain in our country. Being that DuBois grew up in the North without prejudice and slavery, his outlook on education, …show more content…

Again, DuBois was born in the North without half of the fight Southern African-Americans had to witness and live through. He did not go through the struggles of being a freed slave, or the extreme prejudice of being a Black in the South. Nor did he go through the personal struggles of being Black in the South. He and Washington’s upbringings were polar opposites, so the difference of their views is very understandable. Booker T. Washington was born as a slave in Franklin County, Virginia in the mid 1850’s, and had to start his childhood as a slave. Upon being emancipated, he wanted to receive a formalized education and improve his living standards. To do so, he traveled to Hampton University and began his journey of helping our people improve their lives. He later became an educator and used his platform to inform people and awaken them. Being that he was a Southerner, he was closely familiar with the needs of African-Americans in the southern states, and the horrid treatment they received. He stressed that voting and the Civil Rights movement would not change their standpoint in our country either. To reduce violence on Blacks, he pushed for the economy gain n our communities. With this thought pattern, everyone wanted to hear what he had to say. Northern and Southern blacks had a common ground in which everyone could relate; not only the educated Brothers and