about Booker T. Washington and W. E. B. Du Bois.
Take notes on each source. Record facts and details about each leader’s response to the discrimination faced by African Americans and his goals for improving conditions.
Use a Venn diagram to identify similarities and differences in the two men’s viewpoints.
Select a structure for your compare-and-contrast essay, such as a Block Pattern or Point-by-Point Pattern. Outline the points you will cover in your writing and develop a thesis statement. See the example below.
Write a short essay that compares and contrasts the responses to discrimination and goals for improvement stated by Booker T. Washington and W. E. B. Du Bois. Support your ideas with facts and details from the primary and secondary sources you analyzed. Include transition words and phrases to clarify the relationships between your ideas. Submit your essay in a word-processing document.
Booker T. Washington and W. E. B. Du Bois were two prominent African American leaders who fought against discrimination and sought to improve conditions for African Americans. Both leaders had different responses to discrimination and distinct goals for improvement.
Booker T. Washington, born into slavery, believed in gradual progress for African Americans. He believed that economic independence was the key to racial equality. Washington founded the Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute in Alabama, which aimed to train African Americans in vocational skills. He believed that by acquiring practical skills, African Americans would be able to gain employment and improve their economic status.
Washington's approach to discrimination was focused on accommodation and cooperation rather than direct confrontation. He believed that African Americans should accept segregation and discrimination for the time being and work towards proving their worth through hard work and economic success. Washington's goals were centered around economic advancement and self-improvement, as he believed that these would eventually lead to a more equal and integrated society.
On the other hand, W. E. B. Du Bois took a more confrontational approach towards discrimination. Du Bois, who was the first African American to earn a doctorate from Harvard University, saw education and political activism as the pathways to racial equality. He fought for equal rights and opportunities for African Americans, as well as against racial discrimination in all forms.
Du Bois strongly believed in the importance of education in empowering African Americans and breaking the cycle of poverty and ignorance. He criticized Washington's accommodationist approach and argued that African Americans should actively speak out against discrimination and fight for their civil rights. Du Bois also played a significant role in the formation of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), an organization that aimed to secure political, educational, social, and economic equality for African Americans.
In terms of their viewpoints, there were both similarities and differences between Washington and Du Bois. Both leaders recognized the discrimination faced by African Americans and had the common goal of improving conditions for their community. However, their approaches and strategies for achieving this goal differed significantly. Washington believed in gradual change through economic success and cooperation, while Du Bois advocated for immediate political and social equality through education and activism.
In conclusion, Booker T. Washington and W. E. B. Du Bois were two influential leaders who responded to discrimination faced by African Americans in different ways. While both sought to improve conditions for their community, Washington focused on economic advancement and accommodation, while Du Bois advocated for education and activism to achieve immediate equality. Despite their differing approaches, both leaders played crucial roles in the fight against discrimination and paved the way for future advancements in civil rights for African Americans.