Compare and contrast between the philosophical thoughts of Booker T. Washington and W. E. B. Dubois - Essay Example

Introduction Booker T Washington and W.E.D Du Bois were African American, who spearheaded the philosophical interest of the black people. However, though they had a common agenda but differed vehemently on how to achieve social and economic progress. This essay outline and discuss the philosophical contrast of Du Bois and Washington. Washington and Du Bois endered to end racial injustices and class problem between the black community (Booker T. Washington vs. W.E.B DuBois). Washington was an educator and a moderate preacher of self-reliance, accommodation and class solidarity.

He sympathized with the black community to accept discrimination until such time they had material wealth to sustain their struggle. Moreover, Washington argued that the problem of black people could only be solved through hard work that lead to economic prosperity (Booker T. Washington vs. W.E.B DuBois). Furthermore, Washington believed in education of the black people. He understood that education was an important tool in harnessing craftsmanship, farming skills, and enterprise. He believed that if people were educated they would easily cultivated the virtues of patience and thrift.

Washington argued that these values would help black people win over the respect to the whites and make them integrated in the society. Du Bois was a political philosopher and an intellectual who lived from 1868 to 1963. He disputed Washington ideas and argued that they would aggravate discrimination of the black people rather than deliver them from servitude. Instead of perseverance Du Bois pursued political agitation and civil movement agenda. He helped form the NAACP. Moreover, Du Bois argued that social change can only be brought about by the influence of black college and university students.

Du Bois referred to student as’ the Talented Tenth’ (Karenga 368).Washington and Du Bois agreed on the role of education, but they differed on how it would help the black community. For Washington, education was all good for everyone. However, Du Bois argued that education would only help a small group of the talented youth. Therefore, educated secured the plight of students only (Karenga 369). This called for civil rights movement to secure the rights of other black people from the white’s supremacy.

Washington was more compromising while he requested the whites to offers the black people jobs and education and in return give up the demand for social equality. On the other hand, Du Bois was a militant who overturned the philosophy of Washington to a halt and made it possible for the civil right movement of the 1960s (Gibson). Therefore, there is a wide contrast between Washington philosophies with that of Du Bois. According to scholars, Washington had acquired accolade among the white for promising to instal the protestant ethic among the blacks.

However, Du Bois was amazed how a Negro champion can be a white champion too. He disputed the ideas of acquiescence and demanded the respect of human dignity, racial respect and right to education, jobs and ownership of land (Karenga 445). ConclusionThough Washington and Du Bois deferred in their pursuit of black liberation, they both wanted social equality, respect for racial differences and economic progression. Their philosophy were applied in the 1960s civilian movement and have contributed to the progression of the African American in the United States of America and the Caribbean’s.

Works Cited"Booker T. Washington vs. W.E.B DuBois." n.d. University of Virginia. Web. 01 December 2014.Gibson, Robert A. "Booker T. Washington and W. E. B. DuBois: The Problem of Negro Leadership." 2014. Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute. Web. 01 December 2014.Karenga, Maulana. Introduction to Black Studies. New York: University of Sankore Press, 1993. Print.