Comparison Of W. E. B. Dubois And Booker T. Washington

Throughout several years in America things have changed. Whether America’s opinion of the changes are good or bad, things have changed for everyone, no matter the race. The majority of the changes have affected the African American race more than any other race in America. Between the Civil war, the Emancipation Proclamation, and several other events that have happened in America within the last 100 years, African American lives have changed for the good. Every African American has different views and opinions on slavery and what slaves should or shouldn’t do when they were free. W.E.B Dubois and Booker T. Washington, both had different opinions on the best way for African Americans to change their situations, based on education, politics and

He faced several trials as a child, mainly being discriminated as a little boy and being treated differently because of his race. For example, he said, “Why did God make me an outcast and a stranger in mine own house” (Dubois, 1718). Dubois felt as if he was an outcast in society all because of his race. He was a very educated man and so of course he thought that every African American should have the opportunity to be highly educated as well. He advocated for African Americans to have a liberal arts education (Rucker). Educating African Americans was frowned upon during Dubois time period, so for him to be advocating for them to be educated and not just working was something that was different to society. Dubois thought that work for African Americans was unfair. During that time period it was thought by society that African Americans should not be educated they should just work out in fields, cook, clean and everything else they did when they were slaves. On the other hand, Dubois thought that African American should be able to do whatever their heart desired. For example, if an African American wanted to be a

Washington was born into slavery and he experienced what it was like to be a slave and he also experienced the moment when the Emancipation Proclamation was passed. Washington was not full African American, his dad was a white man, but Washington did not know who he was and his mom was African American. Washington had a different view on education than Dubois. Washington thought that African Americans should have basic education and skilled trades so that they could get to work and start supporting themselves (West). He wasn’t as much for higher education like Dubois. He thought why waste time on higher education when they could learn basic skills and start working to support themselves. When the Emancipation Proclamation happened, Washington and all the other African Americans that were with him during that time all felt the happiness of freedom but also felt the sadness and concern about what they were going to do when they were officially freed. For example, he said “These were the questions of a home, a living, the rearing of children, education, citizenship, and the establishment and support of churches…To some it seemed that, now that they were in actual possession of it, freedom was a more serious thing than they had expected to find it” (Washington, 1635). All of them were scared because they had nothing and was told they were free to go out and do anything they wanted, but they had nothing, no money, no tools, or anything. So Washington suggested