Ap Us History Dbq

Segregation of African Americans had been present in the United States since the early
1600s. In the mid­nineteenth century, African American leaders have proposed many different theories and methods to address the injustices posed by the white majority on to the black population. The individuals who led the fight against this discrimination were Booker T.
Washington and W.E.B. DuBois, who took completely different approaches in order to deal with this unfair treatment of African Americans. Booker T. Washington, educator, reformer and the most influential black leader of his time (1856­1915) preached a philosophy of self­help, racial solidarity and accommodation. Washington took a more gradual approach toward black equality. He urged blacks to accept discrimination for the time being and concentrate on
elevating themselves through hard work and material prosperity. He believed in education in the crafts, industrial and farming skills and the cultivation of the virtues of patience, enterprise and thrift. This, he said, would win the respect of whites and lead to African Americans being fully accepted as citizens and integrated into all strata of society. W.E.B. Du Bois, a towering black intellectual, scholar and political thinker (1868­1963) said no­­Washington's strategy would serve only to perpetuate white oppression. DuBois took a more immediate stance. He advocated political action and a civil rights agenda. In addition, he argued that social change could be accomplished by developing the small group of college­educated blacks he called
"the Talented Tenth." Despite their differences, both Booker T. Washington and W.E.B.
DuBois took steps to improve their fellow African Americans lives. To start off with, shown by Document A, the school enrollment by race was much lower for blacks in the period before when you Washington and DuBois became a great impact on the educational system. Beginning around 1905, there was an upward spike in black schooled children which is credited to the efforts as influences from Washington and DuBois. From
1890­1910, the percentage of illiteracy in black decreases by over half as shown in Document
B. DuBois was Washington also helped reduce the racial discriminations against blacks. After the highest number of lynchings, 165, in 1865, they began to become less common, down to
60 over 20 years (Doc C). To continue, based on Document F, to urge on racial discrimination, DuBois founded the
Niagara Movement in 1905. The matter hardened the responsibility for racial problems in the
United States on whites. It urged blacks to maintain for what they are entitled to and then oppose the views of Booker T.
Washington. Document H indicates that his ideas received much scrutiny. People accused his emphasis on vocational training as an idea which stifled the progress of the black race because it condemned the education blacks. Also, many believed that vocational education served as a barrier which kept blacks from achieving high levels of education. Furthermore, Document J clearly expressed how Washington's acceptance to submit to white authority did nothing to help the discrimination faced by his race. The portrait depicts a white man and a black man drinking water from desperate water fountains. The black water fountain is labeled as "For Colored Only," communicating that Jim Crowe serves as a significant aspect of post reconstruction Southern culture. Failure to challenge white authority would only

allow the whites to continue their discrimination for blacks. This is shown in the court case
Plessy v. Ferguson. This case upheld the rights of states to pass laws allowing or even requiring racial segregation in public and private institutions, such as schools, public transportation, restrooms, and restaurants. Next, DuBois strongly promoted didactics for blacks. Without education, millions of
blacks would not change for jobs. His education was responsible for his leadership. DuBois was born in Massachusetts in 1868 as a free black. He attended Fisk University and later became the first African American to receive a Ph.D. at Harvard University. DuBois believed that in stray for people to work and view progress, they necessitate to fork up basic rights. According to
Document E, he believed that blacks could not be disadvantaged of education, the right to vote, and other civic rights.
This is shown, yet again, by the court case Plessy vs. Ferguson where the belief of separate but equal is constitutional. DuBois similarly helped found the field association for the NAACP, which was a gracious rights governing to oppose segregation and racial discrimination. In addition, Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. DuBois fought for the same rights, but had different ways of handling the situation in order to change the country they once knew. In the
"Atlanta Compromise Address" (Doc D) Washington refers to slavery and tells of how the hard work of the blacks helped develop the South into how it is today. The blacks do so much for the country and deserve an education. He said how loyal they are and they take care of whites. His goal was to get and make both races act and work together as in in unity. He wants equality to come and he ensures that the blacks are prepared to receive their deserved rights. Washington had a self help approach that directly challenged the white supremacy to the fullest. Thoughtout the course of American history, the fight for quality will forever be the most influential movement on our present society and it could not have been brought about
without the strategies and fears by African American leaders like W.E.B. DuBois and Booker T.
Washington. Their methods in dealing with black racial discrimination and poverty received much criticism. I believe that Washington's ideas were more appropriate for its time because he advocated for African Americans rights right after the Civil War while there was an infinite amount of hard feelings towards former slaves and expected it to happen over a long period of time, unlike Dubois.Bois.