Washington-DuBois Debate (1900-1916) Hannah Litwak Period 3

Booker T. Washington Premiere Black activist until the time of DuBois founded Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute in black belt Alabama used a sharp political ability to gain his way with the whites of both the North and the South convinced Southerners everywhere right up to the governor that his school had education that would keep blacks "down on the farm"

W. E. B. DuBois Criticized Washington about his stance on Civil Rights Believed that the only way of Blacks getting what they asked for is by insisting equality rather than belittling themselves and insisting that they don't want rights Born in the North (never knew from slavery)

Start of the Debate In The Souls of Black Folk (1903), DuBois launched an open attack on the philosophy of Washington, accusing him of encouraging white leaders to impose segregation and of limiting the aspirations of his race.

Washington’s Ideas “It is necessary for the Negro to learn the difference between being worked and working—to learn that being worked meant degradation, while working means civilization” The Negro was the chief dependence in the Southern economy which helped them become skilled and proficient workmen. Fought for schools that would teach Negros skills needed for everyday life (tailoring, how to set a table properly, etc.) “I would not confine the race to industrial life, not even to agriculture…I would teach the race that in industry, the foundation must be laid—that the very best service which any one can render to what is called the higher education.” “Not only do students receive instructions in these trades, but they do actual work, by means of which more than half of them pay some part or all of their expenses while at the school.” from “Industrial Education for the Negro” -Booker T. Washington (1903)

The Talented Tenth DuBois’s idea to have a group of men positively represent the Black race Aimed at showing Americans that the Negro people are worthy of leadership, may be educated & developed, and to show others about the Negro problem (from the Negro’s point of view) “You misjudge us because you don’t know us.”

1895 Atlanta Compromise Speech (Booker T. Washington) Negros can do more than just farm help. They can be educated and work at higher level jobs just like whites. With ⅓ of the Southern population being Negro, the race deserves recognition. Education of Negros will allow for industrial and economic growth. If given the opportunity, they will put in the work required to succeed so they can provide for themselves and their families.

Sources Brinkley Textbook, Pages 581-583 http://xroads.virginia.edu/~ug03/souls/washingtonvsdubois.html http://teachingamericanhistory.org/library/document/industrial- education-for-the-negro/ http://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/39/ http://teachingamericanhistory.org/library/document/the-talented- tenth/