The Challenges Faced by African-Americans in Securing Education - Assignment Example

IntroductionThere were numerous challenges that were faced by African-Americans in their quest to get some form of education. Some of the serious impediments towards this progress was the nature in which prejudice and racism was entrenched in the American society. Most of the politicians agitated for division of tax money after the thought that more funds were being directed towards the education of African-American children. This idea was detrimental towards the progress of the African-American community.

Dubois and Washington are some of scholars who greatly advocated for the social progress of the African-Americans through education. This paper will highlight the challenges faced by African-Americans in securing education as well as address the disparities between the views of Dubois and Washington.DiscussionChallenges Faced in Establishing Education for African-Americans.Among the huge challenges that people faced in trying to establish an education for African-Americans was widespread discrimination that came in the form of disproportionate apportioning of education funds.

In the late 1890’s, white politicians agitated for the division of tax money for education based on race. This move came after the white politicians thought that the white people were paying more taxes towards the education of African-American children. Very few African-Americans received any form of education prior to establishment of educational institutions during the reconstruction. Most of the schools that existed during this period were segregated without any debate or thought (Washington 44).

Most white leaders permitted this form of segregation on the belief that the arrangement would ameliorate conflicts. States in the North and South had public schools, which were highly segregated, and this was a huge challenge for the African- Americans wishing to get some form of education. Even in schools where African-America children were enrolled, the children were subjected to taunts of racial epithets. Moreover, such schools were under the mercy of the state government, which was controlled by whites.

Most whites did not want education for African-Americans due to the fear that they would become a threat to their dominance and fail to be contented with jobs in domestic services and fields (Washington 44). Causes of Separate Views between Booker T Washington and William DuboisAlthough William Dubois and Booker T Washington were born and raised in the Northern part of the USA, which was tolerant and liberal towards African –Americans than the south, they had different ideas on how to help the African-Americans from prejudice faced under the white majority.

Dubois is accredited for having made major contributions in helping the African-Americans to achieve education. The antagonism between Dubois and Washington was fuelled by Dubois’ believe that Washington had enormous support from the racist Americans and he used the resulting influence over the African-American population to direct them into industrial education. Conversely, Dubois was guided by his conscience to ask the nation to grant African-Americans rights to vote, to have civil equality, and to get some education (Norrell 2).

As opposed to the views of Washington, Dubois had the believe that African-Americans could only fight for their rights through educations but not via economics. Dubois saw that education of African-Americans would serve major purposes such as betterment of the African-American race and the eradication of ignorance concerning the African-Americans by the Americans. Following education Dubois saw the prospects of elimination of ignorance and enlightenment of the world about the contributions that African-Americans were capable of bringing to the society (Norrell 1).

The difference in views between Washington and Dubois comes from the fact that according to Dubois, Washington has represented the African-American in the attitude of submission and adjustment. This depiction of the African-American community infuriated Dubois who saw the potential in the hands of African-American people. This potential could not be achieved due to the rigidities caused by discrimination and racial prejudice. Moreover, such views by Washington led Dubois to believe that Washington had accepted the alleged inferiority of the African-Americans.

Among the essential philosophical basis that separates Dubois’ views from those of Washington was that Washington’s politics were conformist and were taken as an act of betrayal by Dubois. Dubois was an advocate of social progress for the African- American community and hence characterized Washington’s views as conforming to the racist stereotypes and advocating for the status quo, which was based on historical norms of prejudice (Norrell 2).ConclusionIn summary, there were numerous challenges that were faced by African-Americans in their quest to get some form of education.

Most of ideas formulated by the leaders of the time were detrimental towards the progress of the African-American community. Dubois and Washington advocated for the social progress of the African-Americans through education. Although Dubois agreed with Washington that it was important to gain employable skills through education, he disagreed with Washington’s idea that African-Americans were not supposed to attain higher education. Dubois argued that in order for the African-Americans to acquire economic parity and equality, there was the need to focus on education, which would lead them to jobs with a higher pay.

Works CitedNorrell, Robert J. "Reshaping The Image Of Booker T. Washington." The Chronicle Review 55.25 (2009): 1-2.Washington, Booker T. Working With The Hands. New York: Negro Universities Press, 1969.