The Washington & Du Bois Conflict

I find the clash between such two pivotal leaders of the black community, Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois, very interesting. I believe that Du Bois is correct in saying that Washington’s attitude towards the way slaves were treated is detrimental for the future of black people. However, Washington had many followers supporting his view. Why was this? Du Bois wanted African-Americans to have equality ‘now’, but Washington wanted blacks to be given jobs and be able to attend trade school. Perhaps, Washington’s plan was more realistic at the time, and he gave a more convincing speech to the public. Du Bois was not one to censor his words or try to make his speeches appeal just as much to white people as they did to black people. “Discriminating and broad-minded criticism is what the South needs, needs it for the sake of her own white sons and daughters, and for the insurance of robust, healthy mental and moral development.” Although Du Bois was a powerful inspiration for black people, by alienating white people, Du Bois was alienating the majority of the population, and making it harder for him to achieve his goal for equality. In contrast, Washington spoke to white Southern business owners in his Atlanta Address Exposition, and used language that appealed to them and was more likely for them to agree with. It helped blacks gain the trust of white men by white men still feeling superior over blacks, and therefore, may be willing to give blacks jobs so they can at least feed themselves and support their families.

The Washington/Du Bois argument reminds me of Malcolm X and his stance and racial equality. "There can be no black-white unity until there is first some black unity...We cannot think of uniting with others, until we have first united among ourselves. We cannot think of being acceptable to others until we have first proven acceptable to ourselves."