Differing Views of Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Dubois

         Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Dubois both wanted to ameliorate the conditions of Black Americans. Booker T. Washington, being a former slave experienced the poverty and discrimination Black Americans had to face and was very conservative. W.E.B. Dubois, was born in the north free, and was highly educated, and was very radical in his beliefs. Booker T. Washington’s beliefs seemed more appropriate for the time period because relating to the situation Black Americans it would seem more likely to actually improve the situation of the blacks.

           Booker T. Washington believed blacks should stay out of trouble, and try to improve their situation immediately by taking jobs and helping other blacks. Dubois believed blacks should educate themselves and getting high end jobs, but this was impossible for many blacks. During the time of Booker T. Washington and Dubois, there was great racism towards blacks and they suffered extensive disenfranchisement. Segregation prohibited many blacks from getting the education they needed to get high end jobs, and often put blacks in much worse health conditions. Not to mention, clans such as the Ku Klux Klan and the White league often attacked the black which were radical in society. Furthermore, many whites refused to hire, or work with any blacks, making blacks unable to find the jobs Dubois wants blacks to find. Disenfranchisement of blacks often made it impossible if not deadly to carry out the ideas Dubois wanted to do. However, Booker T. Washington’s ideas actually made sense, because getting mediocre jobs would actually improve the jobs of blacks and help reduce the economic dependency blacks had on whites. By reducing the economic dependency blacks had on whites, blacks could live in better conditions and take care of themselves better. Conclusively, Booker T. Washington’s strategies on the way in which blacks should handle the problems of poverty and discrimination are far more effective.