The positive aspects of Booker T. Washington’s position on the assimilation of blacks into the free communities of the United States revolve around his recognition of the rigid color line that existed at the time. Even with a Civil War tarnishing the nation’s history, traditions remained unchanged and white supremacy was the epitome of American cultural norms. To that end, Washington’s argument that persons of African descent ought to “cast down [their] bucket where [they were]” is perhaps the best advice anybody could have given the ex-slaves (1895, par.4). After all, the abolition of slavery not only meant freedom for blacks but also called for a readjustment in the lives of white Americans. With a particular interest in the Southern States, slavery had defined the social, political, and economic spheres of the regions and success in the Antebellum Era was subject to slave ownership. Hence, after the abolition of the slavery system, each side was to work with what was already available to their persons. Years in bondage ensured African Americans could handle hard work, and the Caucasians were aware of the same. Accordingly, Washington’s insistence that both blacks and whites work gradually from where the Civil War left them to a more unionized nation is acceptable.
Contrary to the views of Booker T. Washington, prominent African-American leader W.E.B. DuBois called for an egalitarian society where blacks and whites had equal chances to available opportunities. The 1903 penning of The Souls of Black Folk carries the text “Of Mr. Booker T. Washington” which perfectly captures DuBois’ stance against Washington’s plan. In the man’s observation, it was absurd to assume that blacks were only good for menial labor, and anything that suggested such views disregarded “elements of [African American] manhood” (1903, par.6). Additionally, DuBois insisted that Washington and his supporters were justifying the mistreatment of black men and women, and such “propaganda” was to blame for the “disfranchisement of the Negro” (1903, par.16-17). On that note, part of Washington’s perception of African Americans working slowly to achieve the benefits of their freedom included focusing on menial work as opposed to formal education: DuBois was not for such a move. In the chapter “Of the Training of Black Men” DuBois points out that all vocational colleges required qualified instructors yet white persons had no inclination to educate black students. In his words, “if the Negro was to learn, he [had to] teach himself [or herself]” (DuBois, 1903, par.14). By that logic, if African Americans were to listen to Booker T. Washington, even their vocational colleges would have lacked qualified instructors. Therefore, DuBois was right and without drastic and immediate change, blacks were to remain in a dominant state of inferiority.
With the given facts in mind, on one hand, Washington made sound arguments on why the United States needed more time to accommodate African Americans as free individuals. On the other, DuBois was correct as he asserted that immediate action was necessary if the idea of freedom for an ex-slave community was to bear fruit. Still, both men overlooked the reality that the entire black population could not fit in one cluster. In other words, some individuals were eligible for formal education while others were better placed as laborers and skilled workers in factories or farms. Therefore, the easiest solution would have been to give African Americans a choice. That way, there would be a constant supply of teachers and other qualified persons to take care of the rest of the black community and gradually bring them up to par with the Caucasians, thus creating equality. Personal choice was the answer.
References
DuBois, W. (1903). Of Mr. Booker T. Washington and Others. In The Souls of Black Folk. Retrieved from Bartleby.com: http://www.bartleby.com/114/3.html
DuBois, W. (1903). Of the Training of Black Men. In The Souls of Black Folk. Retrieved from Bartleby.com: http://www.bartleby.com/114/6.html
Washington, B. T. (1895, September 18). The Atlanta Compromise. Retrieved from History Matters : http://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/39/
