Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois: comparing philosophies and contemporary relevance

¶ … Booker T. Washington W.E.B. Dubois. Develop a position effectiveness man's ideas time.

Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois propagated notions that represented an ideological conflict regarding the future for African-Americans at the turn of the 20th century. The former believed in adopting African-American behavior within an accommodationist framework. Essentially, Washington was resigned to the fact that African-Americans would never enjoy full civil rights and equality within the U.S. Therefore, he advocated that they accept this notion willingly, resign themselves to second class citizenship, and learn a trade or two in order to still earn a living (Gibson, no date). He believed that they could not make any other substantial contributions to society other than in a supportive role to Americans with full-fledged rights -- namely, Caucasians.

Du Bois, on the other hand, abhorred such apathy and was given over to the notion of the attainment of full civil rights for African-Americans. He believed that this would be achieved through a talented ten percent of the race, which was decidedly elite in its education, talent, charisma, and all other prerequisites for success, making significant contributions to society (Du Bois, 1903). Its doing so, Du Bois reasoned, would inevitably demonstrate to Americans that African-Americans were deserving of full rights. Moreover, DuBois believed that this ten percent success in various regions of commerce, business, agriculture -- all the areas of necessity in life -- would inexorably help the other 90% of the race to strive for better and make gains so that the race as a whole would eventually prosper -- and, of course, attain full civil rights.

One cannot say that Washington's ideas were not without a degree of effectiveness. His Tuskegee Institute was instrumental in supplying an education for tradesmen in Alabama. Yet his view was severely circumscribed, particularly in contrast to the advantages of Du Bois' notion for assisting the African-American race. While Washington was resigned to accommodating the ideas of Caucasians that African-Americans were inferior to them, Du Bois was working actively to change that notion and the lot of African-Americans. His Niagara Movement was instrumental in disseminating his notions regarding the talented tenth and the call for civil equality, while he founded other organizations, most eminently the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People based on his principles of the talented tenth and his ideas for racial equality. Du Bois' ideas, which helped to improve the fate of all African-Americans, were more effective than Washington's.

Time and posterity has certainly revealed that Washington's philosophies are outdated. There is no category of people based on race or ethnicity that just willingly accepts the fact that they are inferior to others. If the parents might have such a conception and work in positions that seemingly adhere to this idea, they certainly believe that they are doing so for their children, who will be equal if not surpass the skills and abilities of others. Therefore, there is no reason to believe in Washington's accommodationist approach.