The period between the 1890 and 1915 is frequently referred to as the Progressive Era. During this period, it was very hard for the African Americans to progress. Inequality that was mostly in the form of racism was one of the main challenges that affected many African Americans. The white people saw the African Americans as inferior people and therefore did not want to be associated with them. Racism was supported by many white leaders like Jim Crow, who had earlier introduced segregation laws. To bring equality during this period, many courageous leaders like Marcus Garvey, Washington, W.E.B. Du Bois and many others had to emerge to fight for the rights of African Americans. The ideas espoused by these leaders had some similarities and differences.
When it came to the similarities, the first similarity is that DuBois and Marcus Garvey aimed at making sure that the black Americans were treated in the same way the white individuals were being treated. They wanted discrimination in the public spaces to cease. They also intended to see the end of separation in the streetcars and railroads. Thirdly, they wanted African American children to access the same education white children were accessing. Fourthly, they wanted the courts of laws to administer justice to the African-Americans in the same way justice was served to the white peoples (Frinkenbine, 122). The other similarity in the approach applied by DuBois and Marcus Garvey is that they did not champion the use of violence in eradicating the challenge of racism. Both believed that there were very many ways of achieving equality other that through the use of violence.
However, the ideologies of the other African American leaders differed from those of Marcus Garvey. For instance, Washington was in support of the cooperating with the administration as a tool to liberate the black Americans (Frinkenbine, 120). This approach was heavily objected by Garvey because he was a political agitator. He made many provocative statements that were aimed at agitating the establishment of white people.
The second difference is that Dubois believed that the only tool that could be used to bring equality in the United States is integration. While Dubois was in support of integration, the idea of Marcus Garvey was very different. Marcus Garvey was in support of the idea that the black people should help the other black individuals. According to Garvey, if the black people would assist the other blacks, this would prevent the black population from depending on the white individuals. Despite these differences in ideology, the main objective was to fight discrimination and ensure racial equality.
In conclusion, the Progressive Era is depicted as a period when many African Americans were discriminated in the United States. African Americans were discriminated just because their race was different from that of the white individuals. Their race made them be disfranchised. They were not considered for better-paying jobs, as they were thought to be illiterate. These challenges made many charismatic, African-American leaders emerge to ensure that the problem of racism was eradicated. They made a great effort to ensure that the problem of racism was eliminated. However, despite having the same aim, these people had different ideas that they championed to solve the problem of racism. Leaders like Dubois wanted to use integration while Booker T. Washington thought that the political administration approach was the best.
Work Cited
Finkenbine, Roy E. Sources of the African American Past: Primary Sources in American
History. New York: Pearson/Longman, 2004. Print.
