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History Discussion
Student’s Name
Institutional Affiliation
History Discussion
W. E. B. Du Bois and Booker T. Washington were
among the predominant activists of Negro rights. As advocates of the minority,
they responded to the white supremacists demanding that freed slaves received
full rights. However, they had contrasting interpretations; for this reason,
they disagreed on approaches for African American socio-economic advancement. Washington’s
plan entailed submission and self-help while Du Bois supported civil rights
agenda and agitation. Lynching occurred to intimidate black community;
therefore, I learned that its objective was to augment white segregation.
Washington emphasized that blacks should
accommodate white supremacy while Du Bois opposed the submission aspect,
suggesting agitation. According to Washington (1895), accepting white cruelty
would subsequently establish an interdependence between whites and black
community, leading to the economic development of both groups. In contrast, Du
Bois (1897) opposed submission and argued that it resulted in an insignificant
advantage; consequently, he proposed formation of social liberties organizations
to fight for black rights. All this indicates that Washington and Du Bois had
opposing views regarding strategies for racial uplift. Submission and political
strategy were not the only differences between the two leaders but also issues
of civil rights and self-help.
Du Bois’s strategy
emphasized on protests for civil rights contrasting Washington’s philosophy of
self-help. According to Wells-Barnett (1892), Booker T. trusted that black
community could attain their full rights through acquiring an education,
subsequently, proving valuable to white supremacists. However, despite Du Bois
appreciating the significance of training, he proposed that minority groups had
to fight for their civil rights by eliminating segregation. As a consequence,
their difference in approaches resulted in Washington’s critics branding him a conservative
while Du Bois a radical. Despite having varied strategies, Booker T. and Du
Bois all aimed at helping blacks attain their civil liberties.
From the PBS website, it is clear that lynching entailed horrific acts, as a consequence, it created fear among African Americans. According to Wells-Barnett (1892), local...
