LeoZhang

Mr.Sousa
Block6
02/29/16

Inthe18thand19thcentury,AfricanAmericansinAmericalivedinaperiodof
tension.Freedfromslavery,theyfacechallengeslegally,socially,economically,and
politically.Eventhoughasfreedmen,theywerestillnottreatedequallybythewhites,
andtheybegantochallengetheiroppressedsocialstatus.Duringthistime,afew
AfricanAmericanleaderscametopoweranddecidedtobringtheirpeoplechange.
Amongthem,W.E.B.DuBoisandBookerT.Washingtonshareddifferentviewsonthe
NegroProblem.AlthoughDuboisargumentforeducationandthetalentedtenthis
important,Washingtonoffersamoresuitableplanfortheblackbasedonhispersonal
background,hisbeliefinequalopportunity,andhisideaonblackprogressinagriculture
andeconomy.
UnlikeDuBois,BookerT.Washingtonwasbornaslaveandsharedthesame
experiencewithmanyofhispeople.Oncehereceivededucation,herealizedthe
importanceofitandhebelievedthateducationwasthefirststeptochangeand
acceptance.Hissharedbackgroundalsobringshimclosertohispeople.His
firsthandedinformationbroughthimclosertorealityandprovidedhimwithinformation
thatiscrucialforhiminordertopromotechange.UnlikeWashington,DuBoiswasborn
afreeblackmanintheNorthandhehadgrownupwithmoreadvantagesand

privilegesthanmanyblacksinthecountryduringthetime.Hesufferedfromneither
economichardshipnorsevereracism.IncontrasttoWashington,DuBoishasnoprior
experiencetoslavery.Hisprivilegedbackgroundisnohelpinpromotingchangefor
AfricanAmericanssincehewasnotoneofthepeoplewhoneededchange.
Washington,however,wasbroughtclosertohispeopleduetohishistoryasaslave.
Hissourceandbackgroundhelpedhimmakemorereliableplans.
Ontopofequality,BookerT.Washingtonspenthislifetimepromotingeducation
ofblacks.Hebelievedistheblackprogressinpracticaltrainingssuchasagriculture.
Washingtonmaintainshispointofviewthateveryblackmanshouldcastdowntheir
bucketsanddowhattheyaregoodat.Sincemostblackmenhadprofoundprior
experienceinagricultureasaslave,itisbestforthemtofocusinagricultureandbring
progresstoit.Inhisspeechhesaid,"theopportunitytoearnadollarinafactoryjust
nowisworthinfinitelymorethantheopportunitytospendadollarinanoperahouse.
Washingtonstronglypromotededucationandbelievesthateducationisthefirststep
towardsacceptance.ComparingtoDuboistheoryofthetalentedtenth,Washingtons
theoryismorepracticalandmorefitfortheblacksituationatthetime.Duboibelieves
thatblacksevolvementinpoliticsandlawcouldbringchangetotheblacksocietyand
raisetheirstatus.However,thischangetakestimeandthesocialstatusandliving
situationoftheblacksisamoreurgentissue.Bringprogressinagriculturecouldbring
progresstotheblackeconomyandthusraisetheirsocialstatus,resultinginan
improvementinthelivingsituationoftheblacks.

BookerT.Washingtonproposedofeconomicequalitybeforesocialequality.At
thetime,themajorityoftheAfricanAmericanpeoplesufferedfrompovertybecause
theywerenothiredbybusinessesrunbythewhites.Washingtonpromotedequalityin
businessopportunities.HehighlysupportsbusinessesrunbyAfricanAmericanswhere
blackscouldfindjobsandthereforeaffordaneducationandbetterlivingsituation.In
WashingtonsAtlantaexpositionspeech,hestatesthat,Thewisestamongmyrace
understandthattheagitationofquestionsofsocialequalityistheextremestfolly,and
thatprogressintheenjoymentofallprivilegesthatwillcometousmustbetheresultof
severeandconstantstruggleratherthanofartificialforcingIncontrasttoDuboisview
intheneedinpoliticalprogress,Washingtonrealizedthattheblackeconomyisamore
urgentissue.Providingblackequalopportunityinbusinesswillinreturnbringthem
socialequality.
AlthoughDuboisargumentforeducationisimportant,Washingtonoffersamore
suitableplanfortheblackbasedonhispersonalbackground,hisbeliefinequal
opportunity,andhisideaonblackprogressinagricultureandeconomy.Hisplansdeals
withthemoreurgentissue,whichisthelivingsituationoftheblacks,andthereforehis
plansaremorereliablecomparingtothatofDuBois