Amanda Rutledge

US History Red Group

Rubric:
/ 10- Opinion piece should accurately identify and describe the measures needed to achieve racial
equality according to Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. DuBois by supporting ideas with at least
one relevant quote for each thinker (quotes should be no longer than one line in length) and
examples.

/ 10- Opinion piece identifies what each thinker believed was the greatest impediment to racial
equity in the United States and their understanding of the role of government in bringing about
racial equality by supporting ideas with textual evidence (quotes and examples)

/10 Opinion piece evaluates the merits and shortcomings of each thinker from a contemporary
perspective by supporting their ideas with textual evidence provided in the websites about the
contemporary. It should speculate on which thinkers work is most applicable today and explain
why.

/10- Opinion piece includes clearly articulated thesis supported by evidence in the form of
relevant examples and quotes no longer than one line in length. Essay includes parenthetical
citations and a Woks Cited page with no more than 3 outside sources. Essay is no longer than
400 words. (changed to 650 words)

Both W.E.B DuBois and Booker T. Washington were undoubtedly prominent minds in the
black equality movement during Reconstruction. Their views; however, were vastly different in

Amanda Rutledge
US History Red Group
terms of how equality could be achieved. In the context of today, DuBois views have larger
merits than Washingtons opposing views, which are less controversial and more passive.
Todays economy is vastly different than the one both Washington and DuBois lived
through. There is more of a middle class today, but this is not the case for many African
American families. Statistically, whites have become much richer. Average family income for
white families have almost doubled just from 1968 to 1995, while average black family incomes
have grown a bit more than $10,000 (WGBH Educational Foundation, pbs.org). The average
income in 1995 for black families is slightly less than the average for white families, in 1968
(pbs.org).
In context of todays racial inequalities, DuBois views have more relevence to the public.
He believed that the problem of racial inquality must be solved immediately, and by working
together with white counterparts (Dubois, bartleby.com). In his essay, Souls of Black Folk, he
states the people must realize in fact the burden [of racial inequality] belongs to the nation
(bartleby.com). This idea is what proves that DuBois still has merits today.
The problem of racial inequaliy is still imminent. The amount of families living in the
black underclass had tripled from 1968 (pbs.org). DuBois opinion that change must be
completed soon reflectes the Black Lives Matter movement. However correct DuBois are, they
are not perfect. While focusing of political equality, DuBois beliefs were limited in economic
reform (bartleby.com). As seen in the statistics, true racial equality must include a reform of the
economy, a system still heavily sexist as well as racist.
Today, Booker T. Washingtons more passive views have less impact and significance on
the general public. Washingtons beliefs differed from DuBois in the concept that he believed
that waiting for racial equality was the way to bring change (Washington, alycone.com). He

Amanda Rutledge
US History Red Group
didnt believe that the federal governement should play a large role in promoting equality, that it
was up to the Southern blacks to show whites that they deserved equality and respect, being
patient (alycone.com). In Washingtons Atlanta exposition, he donounces the immediate changes,
saying that the privileges that will come to us must be the result of severe and constant struggle
rather than of artificial forcing (alycone.com).
Still, there are values in Washingtons viewpoint. Washington was a strong believer in the
economic system, something that is still vastly racist today. As described earlier, the poverty
percentages and average incomes of the races are extreamly unbalanced (pbs.org). Washingtons
writings therefore sill have merit and need to be considered today when debating how to solve
racial inequality.
In conclusion, both Washington and DuBois have shortcomings and merits in their views
of racial inequality in the context of today. The world is a changing place; however, and needs
new ideas that will push racial inequality away. While helpful in promoting a strong economic
system, Washingtons views are too passive for the modern world. It is the strong, views of
DuBois that argue for change now that have the most merits when applied to todays world.

Works Cited:
DuBois, W.E.B. "Up Fm Slavery: Cpter XIV." Souls of Black Folk. 1903. Bartleby. Bartleby.
Web. 8 Oct. 2015. <http://www.bartleby.com/114/3.html>.
"Viewing the Class Divide." PBS. PBS, Web. 08 Oct. 2015.

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US History Red Group
<http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/race/economics/sam.html>.
Washington, Booker T. "Chapter XIV." Up From Slavery.1901. Alcyone. Erik Max Francis,
1 Jan. 2015. Web. 8 Oct. 2015. <http://www.alcyone.com/max/lit/slavery/xiv.html>.