Compare and contrast essay
Booker T. Washington and W.E.B.Dubois were black African leaders who focused on social and economic progress. However, they had contrasting views and competing visions on how to address issues facing the African Americans, and how to pursue assimilation. First, it is important to understand that reconstruction, which was initiated to address the inequities of slavery and restore the union in the Southern states failed. The white society treated blacks as separate and unequal, and African American leaders applied different approaches to end the racial segregation (Blight et al, 547). In response to sexual and sexual discrimination, Booker T. Washington used a strategy of ‘self-help' and accommodation approach, whereas Dubois used the strategy of ‘the politics of culture.' Washington argued that the only way Blacks could solve their social problems, end segregation, and integrate into the white society is through working hard and acquiring the property (Blight et al, 547). This would enable the African American to gain economic independence and become productive members and as a result, achieve real social and political equality, and civil rights. He wanted African Americans to remain separate but access equal resources. In other words, he wanted the black society to express Black Nationalism and have control over their properties. Generally, Washington was influenced by an economic strategy, and he concentrated much on economic advancement and argued that if Negros worked hard, they would achieve their full citizenship rights (Blight et al, 548). On the other hand, Du Bois used the approach of developing a system of education in the African American community to provide men with intelligence and knowledge of the world. He introduced the term ‘Talented Tenth' and argued that the college-educated individuals should save black society from death and uplift them. He was interested in recognizing black history and culture (Blight et al, 548). He was influenced by political approach and argued that college-educated black men should fight for blacks' political rights and achieve equality and justice.
In general, Booker T. Washington employed a conservative approach since he focused on economic and financial development in both South and North. He believed that for African Americans to achieve social equality, they must gain economic power. He believed that the social and political subjugation were brought by lack of economic progress. Thus, he urged black individuals to gain technical education and urged White employers to employ blacks in the industries (Blight et al, 547). On the other hand, Dubois disagreed with this approach and used a radical perspective and idealistic goals to argue that to achieve social and political equality, and suppress class conflict, the college-educated elite should engage in liberal arts training (Blight et al, 547). Despite the fact that both leaders wanted the blacks to achieve first-class citizenship, Dubois believed in liberal arts, whereas Washington believed in accepting the position of inferiority and tolerate racial segregation.
Blacks and American Indians comparison and contrast is based on slavery-related issues. Both minority groups were slaves in Latin America, and both were subjected to dozens of labels. However, the differences that existed during the precolonial era is that American Indians were treated as ‘natural slaves.' This means that they had no freedom, and they faced terrible brutality (Wade, 28). For black, they had individual freedom, and their input in slavery was valued. The different occurred due to the difference in cultural elements. Indians suffered abuse and discrimination, and they as the Blacks received citizenship during Reconstruction, American Indians were excluded.
Work cited
Blight, David W, Howard P. Chudacoff, Mary B. Norton, Carol Sheriff, and Jane Kamensky. A
People and a Nation: A History of the United States. , 2014. Internet resource
Wade, Peter. Race and Ethnicity in Latin America. London: Pluto Press, 1997. Print
