Aspects of Bookertee 1895 Plan - Essay Example

He stressed that Blacks were not ready for the traditional form of education; rather they should take up an occupation or a skill by which they can support themselves. Washington showed a path to the struggling Negroes by which they can create their basic identity and be self-sufficient in the long run.

However, there were negative aspects to this plan as future academics such as Du Bois pointed out. Washington had stressed that the Blacks needed selective education, that they were not ready to be educated in the traditional form. But, according to Du Bois, the African Americans deserved the same form of education as the Whites. He believed in the philosophy that Fast and Fury wins the race. According to him unless and until the Blacks made a struggle to educate themselves they would limit themselves to the lower segment of society prone to be harassed by the Southern Whites. Another negative aspect of the plan was Washington’s stress that the Blacks adopt a subordinate role towards the Southern Whites. He is asking the Blacks to let go of their struggle against Whites and continue to be backward and underprivileged members of society. IF the Blacks had continued to follow his advice, there would not have been many prominent African Americans in the country.

According to me, Washington was right in asking the Blacks to take an academic route to liberate them from White oppressiveness. He asked the members of his community to stick to education and acquire any useful trade to gain economic independence. A steady income would help in supplementing all the essential elements of life. Education would open their mind to newer possibilities in life and make them come out of their shell. This policy is still followed by several African Americans of today who have shifted to trade and commerce to acquire richness in life and move ahead in the economic ladder.

A Negro Love Story: This poem expresses the desires of a man who is asking his lady friend to reciprocate his love. He shows all the emotions of a man who is witnessing the first stabs of infatuation. His heart is beating wildly and he is also finding nature to be highly romantic. He is particularly encouraged by his lady love’s gleaming eyes and the fleeting smile on her lips. This makes him daring and he asks her to be more physically intimate. At the end of the poem, we find that the girl in the poem is reciprocating the feelings of the man. The poem is very sweet and charming in texture. It brings to mind the first memorable flavors of love.