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Booker T. Washington vs W.E.B. Du Bois

Feb 10, 2025

Crash Course Black American History: Booker T. Washington vs W.E.B. Du Bois

Introduction

  • Presenter: Clint Smith
  • Lecture focuses on the philosophies of Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois.
  • Context: Late 19th and early 20th centuries, a time when Black Americans were seeking ways to integrate into American society.
  • Philosophical questions are a part of everyday life and historical discourse.

Booker T. Washington

  • Background:

    • Born in 1856 in Franklin County, Virginia to an enslaved woman and an unknown white father.
    • After emancipation, moved to West Virginia and worked in mines as a child.
    • Educated at Hampton Institute and Wayland Seminary.
  • Philosophy:

    • Focused on Black economic freedom and self-sufficiency.
    • Advocated for acceptance through skills and labor rather than direct challenge to segregation.
    • Famous for his 1895 Atlanta Compromise speech advocating Black uplift through self-improvement, not directly challenging Jim Crow laws.
    • Sought Black economic stability and safety from racial violence.
  • Key Works and Ideas:

    • "Industrial Education for the Negro": Education should focus on practical skills needed in the community.
    • "Up from Slavery" (1901): Urged Black people to obey segregation laws to maintain peace.
  • Criticism:

    • Seen as too submissive by those wanting more immediate changes.
    • Aimed to reassure whites and avoid racial violence but didn't fully support integration into white communities.

W.E.B. Du Bois

  • Background:

    • Born in 1868 in Great Barrington, Massachusetts.
    • Unlike Washington, not born into slavery.
    • Educated at Fisk University, Harvard University (first Black PhD), and in Berlin.
  • Philosophy:

    • Criticized Washington's approach as submissive.
    • Focused on scholarly study of Black life and advocated for direct civil rights and equality.
  • Key Concepts and Works:

    • "The Philadelphia Negro" (1899): Significant sociological study.
    • "The Souls of Black Folk" (1903): Introduced "double consciousness," highlighting the dual identity of Black Americans.
    • "Talented Tenth": Advocated that top 10% of Black men could uplift the race through classical education.
  • Organizations:

    • Founded the Niagara Movement (1905), and the NAACP (1909).
    • Advocated for broader community involvement and reconsidered elitist views later in life.

Comparison and Legacy

  • Both leaders were working for the betterment of Black communities but with different approaches.
  • Washington focused on economic stability and safety, while Du Bois pushed for immediate social and political change.
  • Washington’s secret support for civil rights cases highlights complexity in his approach.
  • Neither philosophy was monolithic; diversity in Black thought and advocacy strengthened the push for justice.
  • Their contributions laid the groundwork for future Black leaders who learned from both approaches.