Heriditary bondsmen! Know ye not who would be free
themselves must stricke the blow?
-- Byron
In his unquestionable response to the Booker T. Washington mission towards focusing on industry and the promotion of African-Americans to do the labor, W.E.B. Du Bois quickly challenged this pioneer of the new rising revolution towards black folks by writing an influential essay, "Of Booker T. Washington And Others". It was a historical turning point for both impressable men of the turn of the 20-century. What was the tension between them? What really were their opposing sides towards the advancement of black men after slavery?
In my critique of W.E.B. Du Bois essay, I intend to answer those questions I raised and take a deeper look into why W.E.B. Du Bois was passionate enough to write this present his message and rebuttal effectively.
Lets begin with the first question I raised:
Both men wanted to steer the African-American family in a direction of prosperity, self-respect, higher learning, and of course equability. The tension that became the problem for these two influential black man to stand on both sides was that they had completely two different vision to seeing and going about in making their caused a reality.
For instance, Booker T. Washington felt the power of industry and the working labor of the black man could provide extraordinary advancement in life of the then freed slaves. However, W.E.B. Du Bois was passionate on the development of the black man mentality to higher intellect in order to require and obtain the greatest fruits of life. These powerful men clashed idealism and purpose for a better tomorrow of the then freed slaves and both men passionately acquire the equal share of supporters in their quest to present their message across and to be heard effectively.
In W.E.B. Du Bois powerful essay, Of Booker T. Washington and Others is the answer relating to the second question I posed …What really was their opposing sides towards the advancement of black men after slavery? Du Bois explosively describes his caused for his position against Booker T. Washington stating:
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