preview

Compare And Contrast Booker T Washington And W. E. B. Dubois

Good Essays

The Views Behind One Simple Color Imagine being hung on a rope with your life crashing down right in front of your eyes. You don’t know what you did wrong besides speaking up for your rights. You think to yourself, how could people really be this evil and kill me for the color of my skin? In the 1900s, lynching was a common public form of execution used when African-Americans spoke up for their rights and equalities they deserved to have. There were many people that fought for equality using different approaches, but two of the most powerful leaders that made great change within the black community in the late 19th century and 20th century were Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. DuBois. Booker T. Washington’s passive view on the racial inferiority of African-Americans was all about accommodation while W.E.B. DuBois's aggressive view was all based upon resistance. He wanted to fight back because he thought the racial discrimination was unacceptable while Washington wanted to accept discrimination temporarily to avoid more anti-black violence. Despite their differences in views, Washington and DuBois shared one common goal: the future equality for all African-Americans. Booker T. Washington grew up as a slave on a small farm in Virginia in 1856. He rose to become one of the most impactful African-American educators of the late 19th century. When Washington was only ten years old, he worked in a salt furnace. At his next job, he served as a houseboy for a white family and

Get Access