Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. DuBois: Two Paths to Ending Jim Crow

Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution With the passage of these amendments to the Constitution, African Americans expected all of the rights of citizenship. African American males specifically expected the right to vote because the 15th Amendment stated, “The right of the citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.”

Evolution of the Jim Crow South Disenfranchisement of African Americans g Grandfather Clause g Poll Tax Literacy Test g Intimidation and Fear

Systematic State-Level Legal Codes of Segregation Jim Crow Laws Systematic State-Level Legal Codes of Segregation g Transportation g Schools g Libraries g Drinking Fountains g Morgues and Funeral Parlors

Plessy vs. Ferguson The Case: Homer Plessy, 1/8th black, was arrested for sitting in the “white car” of a Louisiana train in violation of that state’s “Separate Car Act.” The case was appealed to Supreme Court.

Supreme Court Ruling 1896 Plessy v. Ferguson The Ruling: SEPARATE facilities were lawful as long as they were EQUAL. Justice John Harlan, the lone dissenter wrote, “Our Constitution is color-blind.” Supreme Court in 1896

Plessy v. Ferguson The Result: Legalized Jim Crow Segregation until 1954 (Brown v. Board of Education)

Two African Americans, Two Diverse Backgrounds Booker T. Washington W.E.B. DuBois

Booker T. Washington Outlined his views on race relations in a speech at the Cotton States and International Exposition in Atlanta – “Atlanta Compromise” Felt that black people should work to gain economic security before equal rights Believed black people will “earn” equality

Booker T. Washington Developed programs for job training and vocational skills at Tuskegee Institute Asked whites to give job opportunities to black people Was popular with white leaders in the North and South  

Booker T. Washington Was unpopular with many black leaders   Associated with leaders of the Urban League which emphasized jobs and training for blacks

Booker T. Washington g Born a slave in southwestern Virginia g Believed in vocational education for blacks g Founded Tuskegee Institute in Alabama g Believed in gradual equality The slang term “Uncle Tom” is used in the African American or black community to describe someone who is perceived as overly ingratiating in interactions with white people. The term is meant to imply that the Uncle Tom is subservient and excessively deferential, behaving as someone of a lesser class or social status rather than treating whites as equals. Usually, this term is used as an insult. (definition from WiseGeek.com) Accused of being an “Uncle Tom” g Received much white support g Wrote Up From Slavery (1901)

W.E.B. DuBois Views given in The Souls of Black Folks and The Crisis Strongly opposed Booker T. Washington’s tolerance of segregation Demanded immediate equality for blacks

W.E.B. DuBois Felt talented black students should get a classical education Felt it was wrong to expect citizens to “earn their rights” Founded the NAACP along with other black and white leaders

W.E.B. DuBois g Born in 1868 in Great Barrington, Massachusetts Well educated-First African American to receive Ph.D. from Harvard Wanted immediate equality between blacks and whites g Wanted classical higher education for blacks g Wrote The Souls of Black Folk (1903) g The Niagara Movement – led to NAACP

The Niagara Movement African American Civil Rights group founded by WEB and William Monroe Trotter It was named after the location of the first meeting in 1905 and the “mighty current” of change they wanted to accomplish They called for an end to segregation and disenfranchisement Opposed the tactics presented by Booker T Washington This is due to a disagreement that arose from a NY meeting organized by Carnegie in which BTW and WEB were invited but Trotter was not, disagreement over right way to go about fighting Jim Crow Laws

Niagara Movement Declaration of Principles African American Suffrage Equal treatment for all Americans Equal economic opportunities Free, compulsory education Judges come from all races Equal punishment regardless of race End of convict lease system

The movement…. Had two magazines Moon and Horizon By sept 1905 had chapters in 21 states Movement comes to an end in 1908 due to disagreements between Trotter and Du Bois over various issues including election of 1908 **Many African Americans (particularly in the South) favored BTW approach Eventually somewhat involves into the NAACP

Talented Tenth was a term coined by W. E. B. Du Bois to describe the small percentage of educated and upper middle class Negroes who were high achievers in the face of racial prejudice. The Harlem Renaissance, 1917-1936, is considered to have been a manifestation of the power of this small group to impact the entire community. Word was developed by white northern philanthropists They had the goal of establishing black colleges in the South to train black teachers and elites.