W.E.B. DuBois

W.E.B Dubois

Of Mr. Booker T. Washington and Others

“His doctrine has tended to make the whites, North and South, shift the burden of the Negro problem to the Negro’s shoulders and stand aside as critical and rather pessimistic spectators; when in fact the burden belongs to the nation, and the hands of none of us are clean if we bend not our energies to righting these great wrongs.”

 

I chose this passage, because it states a claim that I believe is valid today.  Dubois relates the compliance of Washington give Whites an “out” of responsibility for the inequality and Negro problems without considering them as people, humans.  Rather of another species without empathy or apathy towards to the Negro plight.  He further asserts that it takes everyone (referenced by the words, “nation” and “us”) to work together, not just blacks, but all ethnicities.      

Works Cited

                                                                              
Dubois, W.E.B., Of Mr. Booker T. Washington and Others              

Questions

1) Evaluate the argument between Booker T. Washington and DuBois. Has the approach of Washington actually been adopted in practice?

            The ways and means of fighting for equality has many faces and attitudes, depending on the situation a person chooses which one to employ.  Does a person display a militant attitude at all times in the face or adversity? Relaying an attitude of non-cooperation, or do you become persuasive in order to obtain your primary goal and be called by others you establish to help as “compliant” or a “door mat” to the other side?

            In today’s society, the overall attitude that has been adopted is a non-confrontational, non-violent manner that allows Blacks to obtain their goals through persuasive argument – solidified by the words of the law.  While DuBois militant points of approach do have merit, the rights granted to Blacks in the U.S. have primarily been through Washington’s practice of subterfuge.  I believe DuBois philosophy is still in use to a point, but overall success for, what is considered a minority class has been debative arguments.