Impact Did Booker T Washington Have On African American Society Essay

“Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life, but by the obstacles which he has overcome.” (Washington) African Americans had to endure many obstacles. After the civil war was over African Americans gained U.S citizenship, but were not given true equality to other Americans. African Americans were not being treated how they should have been and it took guts to stand up and influence society. Booker T. Washington and W.E.B DuBois both had a huge influence on African American society, both helped contribute to the cause of African American social equality, and even influenced other African American writers and their works.

First of all, Booker T. Washington had a very interesting view of social equality.

DuBois and Booker T. Washington had an influence on African American literature. One person they influenced was Charles Chesnutt. Charles Chesnutt’s story “The Wife of His Youth” has lots of influences by W.E.B Dubois. The Blue Vein Society has a lot in common with W.E.B. DuBois’ “Talented Tenth.” Charles Chesnutt would agree with him on many of his stances. One being that African Americans can succeed even through the horrors of slavery. Another Person they influenced was Paul Laurence Dunbar. In his story “Sympathy” it shows lots of influences by both W.E.B. DuBois and Booker T. Washington. In the story the caged bird represents African Americans who are caged by society. It shows an opposition of Booker T. Washington views and agrees more with W.E.B. DuBois’ view of an immediate change. Also, as it says that the bird wants to go on up to heaven rather than live in the cage and be oppressed. Paul Laurence Dunbar was trying to show how African Americans felt oppressed by white people and show that the bird represents the African Americans and how they would rather be bloodied and die than give in to the oppression.(Dunbar) Some people would even say that W.E.B. DuBois inspired the Harlem Renaissance through his work and his political ideas. His ideas were the forefront for equality for African Americans and not backing down. W.E.B. took the harder approach while Booker T. Washington took the approach that was the easiest and more likely to succeed at

Washington and W.E.B. Dubois helped shape African American culture and equality. They both had a huge influence on African American society, both helped contribute to the cause of African American social equality, and even influenced other African American writers and their works. Washington and Dubois got the ball rolling on social equality for African Americans and it wouldn’t stopped until it came to pass. They inspired writers for generations writing about equality for African Americans. They even helped form organizations and schools to help African Americans in society. There is no telling what it would be like today if they wouldn’t have stepped up and did what they did. Without them America would have had to wait for someone else to step up and take the reigns of social equality which could have taken years, maybe even