Isabella Hunt

Green Group

In our current era when dealing with issues involving the infamous color line W.E.B
Du Bois ideas would be preferable to Booker T. Washingtons. W.E.B Du Bois and Booker T.
Washington were both in favor of racial equality; they simply disagreed on the means by which it
should be obtained. Booker T. Washington believed that economic security among African
Americans was the path to (EVENTUAL) freedom. On the other hand W.E.B Du Bois was all
about taking action in the moment. Du Bois believed that ensuring political and social equality
was the way to go.
Washington was a supporter of vocational education. Washington considered labor skills
as important as education, evidence of this is when he says, "No race can prosper till it learns
that there is as much dignity in tilling a field as in writing a poem". In Washingtons mind it
seemed that the right to vote or the rights to basic civil liberties didnt matter if one could not
support themselves/ lacked the skills necessary to join the work-force. Washingtons philosophy
of sorts was that if African Americans proceeded to be hard-workers and they proved to the
whites they were "worthy" then someday true equality would be granted to them.
From Du Bois perspective social and political equality was not something that could be pushed
into the future, it was an issue that needed to be addressed. This is exemplified in this quote;
"The power of the ballot we need in sheer defense, else what shall save us from a second
slavery?" Du Bois started the Niagara movement which was a precursor to the NAACP. Du Bois
efforts lead the US into the Civil Rights Movement of the 20th century. While Washington
supported elementary (basic) education for African Americans Du Bois pushed for higher
education among African Americans.
During his time period Washingtons ideas couldve benefited African Americans, but the black
economy as a whole has tremendously improved since Washingtons time, therefore his opinions
are not as relevant as they used to be.
Du Bois' ideas however could be as beneficial in our time period as they were in his.
Even recently the safety of African Americans (from police in particular) has been a
controversial topic. Du Bois believed in fighting for social and political rights (especially voting
rights). Nowadays African Americans have the voting rights that people like Du Bois fought so

Isabella Hunt
Green Group

hard for. Now people need to vote for candidates that promise to protect the rights and safety of
African Americans.
Du Bois and Washington both wanted the same thing; equality among the races, but Du
Bois ideas would just be more efficient and effective than Washington's.
Bibliography
"III. Of Mr. Booker T. Washington and Others. Du Bois, W. E. B. 1903. The Souls of Black
Folk." III. Of Mr. Booker T. Washington and Others. Du Bois, W. E. B. 1903. The Souls of Black
Folk. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Oct. 2015.
"Up from Slavery: Chapter XIV." Up from Slavery: Chapter XIV. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Oct. 2015.