Washington Vs Dubois Essay

539 Words3 Pages

During the era of the Jim Crow Laws during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, two main advocates fought for African American civil rights: Du Bois and Booker T. Washington. They both had completely separate and opposite ways of doing this. It's also a fact that African Americans had to face many challenges and injustices over this time that greatly affected their lives. Booker T. Washington's main philosophy was the concept, of prioritizing their working education over immediate political agitation. Washington truly believed that by proving their economic value to the South, it would gradually break down racial barriers and achieve greater civil rights. Washington emphasized the importance of industrial educational skills, such as working …show more content…

W.E.B. Du Bois completely rejects Washington's approach, arguing for immediate and full civil rights for African Americans. In his seminal work, Du Bois advocated for education, Du Bois viewed racial equality as an urgent matter challenging the status quo of racial segregation and discrimination. “Du Bois maintained, should not be merely vocational but should focus on developing bold leaders willing to challenge segregation and discrimination”(America 727) What Du Bois is saying is that African Americans should not only learn to work for jobs but also learn to become great leaders and challenge the Jim Crow laws. Some of the general issues that African Americans faced during the Jim Crow Law era included racial segregation and discrimination across all parts of their lives including education, housing, employment, and in public for example white and people of color stores, schools, and even water fountains. The enduring challenges faced by African Americans persisted, encompassing hurdles in securing gainful employment with fair