Discussion Topic
In the late-nineteenth century there was disagreement over how to bring socio-economic equality to former slaves. Two African Americans emerged as the intellectual spokespeople for their community: Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. DuBois. Examine their ideas by reading about them in your textbook and by reading excerpts from their writing.
In your first posting, respond to at least one of the following questions:
- Which do you think should have been the primary goal in trying to ensure socio-economic equality for African Americans: securing voting rights, ensuring access to higher education, or establishing an economic base? Use arguments advanced by Washington or Du Bois, as well as your own, to support your points.
- Do you strongly agree or disagree with any of the arguments advanced by Du Bois or Washington? Discuss.
- Which man do you think had ideas that were most likely to be accepted in his time? Explain.
As you read and respond to other students' responses, you may wish to address these two questions:
- Which one of these arguments seems more popular among Black and White Americans today?
- Why do you think these two intellectual leaders came to such different conclusions?
Required Reading
Before you enter the discussion, be sure to read the related pages in your textbook. If you're using Tindall and Shi, see:
| 8th Edition | 7th Edition | 6th Edition | 5th Edition |
| Chapter 19, pages 748-783 | Chapter 19, pages 769-778 | Chapter 19, pages 850-857 | Chapter 19, pages 839-884 |
To better understand the ideas of these two men, you might want to read segments of the following documents online:
Scoring
This discussion is worth a maximum of 15 points. You'll get 10 points for your first post. Your instructor will give you another 5 points if you post a follow-up comment or question that furthers the discussion.
Original:
ReplyDeleteI think establishing an economic base should have been a primary goal in trying to ensure socio-economic equality for African Americans because it would allow for more rights if African Americans had wealth to back up ideals and ensure that they could have the same jobs as everyone else. I agree with the arguments of Washington to extent, I agree with him that economic would be more essential for African Americans but he advocated segregation which i disagree with. I also agree with DuBois in his actions to advance African American rights by challenging segregation through political actions. Washington ideals were most likely to be accepted because political advancements were not mentioned and more people of the time would accept it.
Original:
ReplyDeleteEnsuring access to high education should have been the primary goal in trying to ensure socio-economic equality for African Americans. Education should have been the main focus because education is the one thing that couldn’t be taken from them. With an education, African Americans would gain access to high paying jobs as well as various other opportunities. Voting rights can easily be taken away with rules and regulations and an economic base could be taken away through heavy taxes and fees. I believe W.E.B Du Bois had ideas that were most likely to be accepted. During the late 1800s and early 1900s, African Americas were becoming frustrated with the efforts Southerners used to limit their rights. Du Bois strongly demanded the advancement of civil rights and protesting would have been the easier choice for upset African Americans.
Original:
ReplyDeleteI think establishing an economic base seems to be more popular among Black and White Americans today. Only a selected few students today are focused on gaining a higher education while with the recession and the rate of inflation causes most people today to worry about financial security. I think these two leaders came to such different conclusions because of their background. Booker T. Washington grew up in Alabama, the agricultural south, therefore his ideals were more focused on the economy and financial securities. Du Bois was born in Massachusetts, therefore his perspective was focused around politics and a political standing.
Original:
ReplyDeleteI believe that in order to ensure socio-economic equality for African Americans, the primary goal should have been securing access to higher education. Only with education could African Americans stand to compete in the workforce with the other races and they could ultimately focus their attention on getting an education that would hone their natural intellectual abilities and allow African Americans to advance in life. Their intellect was the one thing that no one could take away from African Americans while voting rights and an economic base would always have remained vulnerable to taxes and amendments placed by the government. The ideas and views that W.E.B. DuBois advocated would probably be more widely accepted nowadays especially since he advocated civil rights for African Americans.
Original:
ReplyDeleteNowadays, African Americans are more focused on securing an economic base for themselves rather than paying attention to voting rights or attainging for the highest degree possible at a college/university. The economic crisis has everyone scrambling for the extra buck in order to be financially solvent and has caused everyone to worry about their financial status rather than anything else such as an education or voting rights.
I think the greatest way for blacks back in 1800s and early 1900s was to ensure an economic base. The survival of the fittest economy did not discriminate against anyone, simply put the best worker got the raise and worked his way up. I think Blacks should have taken this as an oppurtunity to prove themselves while gaining economic freedom and security.
ReplyDeleteI think gaining an education is very important, but at the time it came down to who would work the hardest. Carnegie and all the wealthy buisnessmen were not lawyers, doctors, or engineers, they were hard working men who worked their way up. That was the way for blacks to gain independence, it was to gain it on their own.
ReplyDeleteI believe that African Americans should have focused on gaining an education above all else, because an education can give way to an economic base and voting rights. It is harder to deny the rights of a learned person, and the more African Americans that had an education, the more who could fight for jobs and suffrage.
ReplyDeleteI feel that people feel the need to gain an economic base today due to the ongoing recession, inflation, and unemployment. Since money isn't coming easily, people want to secure as much money as they can in order to live. The reason that Booker T. Washington and W.E.B DuBois had such different ideals is because of where they were born. Washington was brought up in Alabama, which was more concerned about the economy, while DuBoid was born in Massachusetts, where education was more prevalent.
ReplyDeleteI believe that African Americans should have focused primarily on gaining access to a higher education. This is because employers began to look for skilled and educated workers around that time. This education would provide various new opportunties which would lead to financial stability and possibly voting rights. Literacy tests would not be in issue for an educated African American hence giving them more opportunities. I also believe that W.E.B DuBois' ideals would have been more widely accepted based on the fact that he fought for civil liberties for African Americans.
ReplyDeleteI believe that both White and Black Americans today are focused strictly on economic security. Now adays, with financial opportunites becoming scarce based on the recession individuals are just struggling to make ends meet rather than focusing on more payments for recieving a higher education or voting. Rather than gaining an education for high paying jobs Americans find themselves scavenging for the the little work they can find without the education.
ReplyDeleteIn trying to ensure socio-economic equality for African Americans, I believe that higher education should have been one of the most important focuses. Education changes a lot about a person and the way they are perceived, which nods to the social aspect of their standings. Through education African Americans would have the chance to succeed in a greater number of areas. While voting rights and securing an economic base are both important aspects of ensuring socio-economic equality for African Americans.
ReplyDeleteToday I believe that African Americans as well as white americans are focused purely on economic security. Which means there is some focus on education, however, social factors have shaped this country into a purely economically thriving nation.
ReplyDeleteI believe at the time it was necessary for African Americans to establish themselves economically because there was little to any aid given out to African Americans at the time. So establishing themselves economically would be much more efficient than finding a social status or an education. Yes an education determines where you stand economically but that is not always the case. Finding a stability financially will pave the way for a good safety net when education comes into play.
ReplyDeleteAs all or many of my peers have stated before, African Americans like many other Americans are working towards a stable financial future. Though many Americans are realizing that to have a stable financial future a higher degree in education is necessary.
ReplyDeleteThe main arguments that seem popular today among black and white americans are economical challenges. Such as the recession, which many believe is another great depression. they probably came to different solutions based on their backgrounds and view of black rights.
ReplyDeleteAs an influential African American, living in a time of escalating segregation, Booker T. Washington negotiated a course between accomodation and progress in advocating greater civil rights for blacks. His philosophy of "request" not "protest" allowed him to gain the respect of presidents and politicians, but sometimes alienated those of his own race. Washington believed education was a cornerstone for the advancement of blacks and his efforts to raise money for his beloved Tuskegee Institute helped secure its well-deserved reputation as a leading educational institution for African Americans. Booker T. Washington had ideas that were most likely to be accepted in his time.
ReplyDeleteThe reason why these two intellectual leaders came to such different conclusions is beacuse the were born in two completely different locations. Booker T. Washington was born in Alabama. He would have been more focused on improving his economic standing to make up for his shortcomings. On the other hand, WEB DuBois was born in Massachusetts, where education was more of an ordeal.
ReplyDelete