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.