Washington_vs._Dubois

“The Fight for Equality” Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois were two African American men who fought for equality for African Americans in the late 1800s and early 1900s; however, they used different methods to achieve this common goal. Though both men were fighting for the same cause, both had very different beliefs about the subject. Both also had different ways of going about doing it. Booker T. Washington wanted to take a more gradual approach while W.E.B. Du Bois wanted equality immediately. W.E.B. Du Bois wanted immediate social equality for African Americans; however Booker T. Washington wanted economic freedom. The two men wanted the African Americans to step out of the white man’s shadows and receive what was entitled to them in the Constitution. Although these two men were alike in some ways, they were different in more ways. Booker T. Washington kept clear of the subject of social equality. He believed in getting economic freedom for African Americans. He wanted blacks to learn a trade and take a part in the working force as a step in getting equality. This economic independence would be the ticket in getting the equality they wanted. He also wanted to take things slowly and gradually work towards equality. Washington said they should bear with the immoral and hatred things said about the black community, while trying to work hard towards their goal. With doing this, they would earn the respect of the common white man. Washington was the first black man to eat at the White House. He also founded the Tuskegee Institute. He was the white man’s favorite because he was not seen as a threat. His beliefs and methods were not as threatening. W.E.B. Du Bois demanded total equality for African Americans. He also took the more rapid approach. He wanted the rights immediately. He did not want the African Americans to have to wait for to receive their rights, as they had waited long enough. He wanted them to demand that they receive equality. Du Bois’s philosophy prevailed over Washington’s as the more feasible and more effective way to fight this war for equality. Most white people would say that if the African Americans were patient they would have it all, everything they were fighting for. If they would have done the work necessary to form an economic foundation to build their community on they would receive their rights. These words followed suit with what Booker T. Washington was doing; but the African Americans did not believe in his ways. They wanted to follow the ways of Du Bois. This made him the most popular man. If African Americans would have taken the way of Washington, they would still be in the same place. Du Bois helped them get off the streets and from the outskirts of the white community and helped them build up their own community. He helped them receive the rights and equality they were fighting for. Both men had very much in common. They were both fighting for the equality and rights for African Americans that were stated in the Constitution. Both men were fighting in the same time period and at the same time. Even though Washington won the attention of the white Americans, Du Bois did not stop fighting for his cause. The greatest flaw these two men had was that they failed to take into consideration that the white man loves to dominate and control every aspect of the African American community. In this situation and time in history, African Americans were considered second class. In conclusion, W.E.B. Du Bois was the more successful of the two, Washington and himself, in the fight for the equality of African Americans. He achieved his goal. Both men were fighting for the same mission, but in different ways. They shared some of the same beliefs and goals. They used different methods in going about trying to make the black community more equal to that of the whites. One was successful and one was not. But the main idea was that they blacks received the equality that deserved.