The Rivalry Between Booker T. Washington And W.E.B. Du Bois: A Defining Moment In Black History

No account of Black history in America is complete without an examination of the rivalry between Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois, which in the late 19th to early 20th centuries changed the course of the quest for equality in American society. This rivalry helped give birth to the modern civil rights movement. Though Washington and Du Bois were born in the same era and were both highly accomplished scholars committed to the cause of civil rights for Black people in America, their differences in background and methods would have a profound impact on the future.

Washington's Vision of Economic Independence

Born into slavery in Virginia in 1856, Washington's early life experiences greatly influenced his later thinking. He worked in a salt mine and as a domestic servant for a white family after the Civil War. Eventually, he attended the Hampton Institute, one of the first all-Black schools in America, and went on to lead the Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute in Alabama, a vocational school aimed at providing African Americans with essential moral and practical skills.

Washington believed that achieving economic independence was key to securing true equality for Black people. He argued that they should focus on demonstrating their productivity and skills in society instead of demanding civil rights immediately. This perspective was encapsulated in a speech he delivered at the Cotton State and International Exposition in Atlanta in 1895, which was seen as a compromise by many, including his critics.

The Impact of Du Bois's Experience with Bigotry

Born in 1868 in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, Du Bois was raised in a relatively integrated environment and excelled in school, graduating as valedictorian. However, upon attending Fisk University in Tennessee, he faced the harsh realities of racism and discrimination for the first time. This experience profoundly shaped his understanding of racial injustice and solidified his commitment to advocating for equal rights.

Du Bois returned to the North determined to pursue his education and fight for Black Americans' rights. He became the first Black man to earn a Ph.D. from Harvard University in 1895, with his dissertation being one of the first academic works examining the African slave trade's suppression in the United States.

The Clash of Ideologies: Washington vs. Du Bois

By the early 20th century, both Washington and Du Bois had emerged as the most influential Black leaders in America. Washington's conciliatory approach to civil rights allowed him to successfully fundraise for his institution and gain the trust of many white leaders, including President Theodore Roosevelt. His approach emphasized patience and vocational training as paths to Black advancement.

In stark contrast, Du Bois became the leading intellectual voice for Black Americans, advocating vehemently for civil rights and education as the only means to achieve true equality. His published works and critiques of Washington's ideology highlighted the necessity of political action against systemic racism.

The Legacy of Their Rivalry

The ideological divide between Washington and Du Bois is considered one of the most significant conflicts in the history of civil rights. In 1905, Du Bois and other Black intellectuals founded the Niagara Movement, which aimed to promote civil rights and political action. While the movement eventually dissolved, many of its goals were incorporated into the formation of the NAACP in 1909, where Du Bois served as its director of publicity and editor of its journal, Crisis.

Despite Washington's earlier successes, he lost political influence when President Woodrow Wilson began to segregate the federal government in 1913. Washington passed away in 1915, but his legacy and the debates surrounding his and Du Bois's ideologies continue to influence discussions on race and equality today.

Du Bois remained committed to the cause of civil rights throughout his life, eventually becoming a member of the American Communist Party and repatriating to Ghana, where he died in 1963 at the age of 95.

In summary, the rivalry between Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois not only defined their individual legacies but also played a crucial role in shaping the civil rights movement in America. Their differing visions for achieving equality continue to resonate in contemporary discussions about race, identity, and justice.