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

Booker T. Washington and William E.B. DuBois had different approaches to political problems faced by African Americans from 1890 to 1915.

Booker T. Washington was born into slavery in 1856. His early childhood consisted of manual labor in local mines and as a houseboy for a prominent white family. As a southerner Booker T. Washington often looked to practical solutions to his problems and to those of the black community.

Washington attended the Hampton Institute and later established the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama. By 1900 Washington was considered the most influential black leader in the United States. He promoted the belief that black Americans were responsible for their own economic successes or failures and that blacks should not directly challenge white supremacy. Washington believed that through hard work and the learning of manual labor skills one would earn the respect of white Americans. Once this respect was earned, acceptance of the black race would be achieved.

Many prominent white

DuBois did not believe that work alone would bring about racial equality. He believed education and the agitation by a black elite that would demand equality would be a more effective means of change. DuBois established the Niagara Movement and helped to found the NAACP. He was determined to prove that the Constitution guaranteed civil and political rights to all Americans, including the Negro. DuBois was appalled by Roosevelt’s reaction to the Brownsville Affray and encouraged blacks to register to vote and remember the Republican reaction and response to Brownsville as they voted in the next presidential election.

Booker T. Washington disagreed with DuBois’ approach toward racial equality and to what he perceived as the NAACP’s threat against the Tuskegee Institute. Washington viewed his position has the head of the Tuskegee Institute as superior over DuBois’ position in the NAACP and believed DuBois was being used and manipulated by white