Preview

Assess the Significance of the Role of Individuals in Reducing Racial Discrimination in the USA 1877- 1981

Powerful Essays
Open Document
Open Document
2329 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Assess the Significance of the Role of Individuals in Reducing Racial Discrimination in the USA 1877- 1981
“Assess the significance of the role of individuals in reducing racial discrimination in the USA 1877- 1981” When the United Stated of America was formed in 1776 racial discrimination has been apparent throughout. Numerous factors have led to the reduction of racial discrimination: the changing economy in the USA, the role of key individuals, the role of the President and Federal Government and finally the two World Wars. Though, some historians argue in comparison to the other factors, the most important role in reducing racial discrimination was that of key individuals such as Martin Luther King and Booker T. Washington due to their influence and leadership helping to free African-Americans from discrimination. Firstly, the role of individuals arguably played the most influential role in reducing racial discrimination and spreads back to the era and leadership of Booker T. Washington who fought for civil rights. Previously trapped in slavery Washington was freed by the third amendment and continued to get a degree at Harvard University and lead the path as a black spokesman, evidence is provided by Vivian Sanders, as she describes Washington as “1America’s leading spokesman for black people and their concerns.” Washington had achieved, giving several generations of blacks vocational education, establishing the Nation Negro Business League, and he continued to inspire African-Americans through his speeches, books and national fame. In addition, Washington was the first black American to be invited to the White House. Overall, Washington was the earliest inspiration for black Americans to achieve a proper education making his significance key in accessing the role of individuals. Arguably the most influential spokesman for the black community and leader in the struggle for civil rights was Martin Luther King Jr. A strong believer in non-violence, unlike his counterpart – Malcolm X, he believed in achieving the reduction of racial discrimination through peaceful
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Better Essays

    Progress Is a Process: an Analysis of “Letter from a Birmingham Jail”
    • 1235 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Progress Is a Process: an Analysis of “Letter from a Birmingham Jail”

    When the fifty-six members of the Continental Congress signed the Declaration Of Independence in 1776 they never could have imagined the many revolutionary trials and challenges that the document’s significance of equality would ensue in years to come. In 1863, Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, which allowed all those enslaved in Confederate territory to be forever free. The proclamation became a turning point in the aspirations of the African American race. The end of the Civil War in 1865 effectively ended slavery but did not openly give way for African Americans to have equal rights. The continuous struggle and persistence of the African American people lead to Jim Crow Laws that made them into second-class citizens. These laws dug deep holes for legal segregation between the races of black and white. To counter these laws the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People was formed to increase racial equality and challenge such issues formed by segregation. One of the main leaders in this Civil Rights Movement of the N.A.A.C.P. was Martin Luther King Jr. He was able to prove to the African American people that he was committed to the dream of equality by not only continuing the fight after facing adversity when his house was fire-bombed, but by also speaking his mind to the eight clergy men that wrote about his actions in “A Call For Unity.” King’s “Letter From A Birmingham Jail” was written while he was incarcerated and came to be one of the biggest turning points for the African American struggle for racial equality. By systematically rebutting the assertions made by the clergymen, King was able to portray his personal views and suffrage-based opinions on segregation so that they could realize the injustice being inflicted on the African American people and choose their position toward justice or continued injustice.…

    • 1235 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    W. E. B. Dubois Rhetorical Analysis
    • 240 Words
    • 1 Page

    W. E. B. Dubois Rhetorical Analysis

    Soon after the end of slavery, it became obvious that even though everyone was technically free, not everyone was equal. This realization among those who had been slighted gave rise to many strong leaders among them, all more than willing to share their opinions on how to end segregation and racism, promote camaraderie between the various races, and make the importance of equal rights to all known. Among these great leaders that arose are Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Dubois, two influential leaders that presented their sometimes opposing ideas on how to promote equality and freedom in such a way that they were able to present their ideas to a multitude of people across the United States. Despite the different tones presented by Booker T.…

    • 240 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Similarities Between William Edward Burghardt Du Bois And Booker T. Washington
    • 498 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Similarities Between William Edward Burghardt Du Bois And Booker T. Washington

    Washington and William Edward Burghardt Du Bois ideas and work impacted in the fight for equality. In Booker T. Washington's case, he affects the short term fight. Although education is very important the majority of his community would be fed up with the racism that they would just give up. African Americans wanted to be equal in America. However, Washington's idea benefited and accommodated more of the Caucasian community than his own race. While W.E.B Du Bois affected the long term fight. he encouraged people to fight for their rights and stand up for themselves. Civil right moment evolving is what led to the end of segregation because many carried out the work after W.E.B Du…

    • 498 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The Difference Between Booker T. Washington And W. E. B. Dubois
    • 166 Words
    • 1 Page

    The Difference Between Booker T. Washington And W. E. B. Dubois

    As the great parts of the Afro-American history, Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. DuBois played the most important roles in the problem of Negro leadership of nineteenth- twentieth centuries. The Negro leadership problem caused considerable debate among Negro leaders: how to obtain first-class citizenship for the Negro American. Some black leaders encouraged Negroes to become skilled workers. Others advocated struggle for civil rights, especially the right to vote. In the theory it would lead to the economic and social rights. The two remarkable black men were presenting two opposite solutions of the most heated controversy in Negro leadership at that time. For two decades Washington was the founder and the trustworthy base of a dominant tone…

    • 166 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Washington vs DuBois
    • 565 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Washington vs DuBois

    On January 1, 1863, the United States’ Negro population was proclaimed “henceforth and forever free” according to President Abraham Lincoln’s establishment of the Emancipation Proclamation. However, years after its release, the Negro population was still mistreated. After the Civil War, white southerners were relentless in establishing themselves as the superior race. The newly implemented Black Codes restricted African Americans' of their new freedom and essentially began a new form of slavery. African Americans experienced violent discrimination and devastating poverty daily. In an attempt to diminish this oppression, two great and well respected leaders of the black community, Booker T. Washington and W. E. B. DuBois, offered contrasting approaches. Both methods contributed to the movement; however, one was more appropriate for the time period. Overall, Washington’s philosophy of self help and acceptance of discrimination was the better fit.…

    • 565 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Ida B. Wells vs. Booker T. Washington
    • 1001 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Ida B. Wells vs. Booker T. Washington

    In post-reconstruction America, many Black writers, ministers, teachers and others eloquently argued on behalf of freedom and justice for Black Americans, advocating various strategies for achieving racial and economic equality. Two such leaders who helped shape the political discourse were Ida B. Wells and Booker T. Washington. Urging politically divergent approaches, they both wanted African American people and men in particular, to be valued and respected by the white south. However, they differed significantly in the means by which they believed such change would come about. Ida B. Wells told the truth in a way that made many whites uncomfortable, addressing lynching and other racially motivated atrocities directly and proposing that African Americans collectively leverage economic power through strikes and boycotts, and individually protect themselves from lynches with weapons. In contrast, Washington was more conciliatory, appealing to whites to give African Americans the opportunity to prove their technical capacity and participate alongside whites as legitimate economic partners. While the “gradualist” gained unprecedented access to formal political power through his white benefactors, I believe Ida B. Wells’ argument that African Americans stop conceding power to whites was more persuasive in advancing racial equality for African Americans in post-reconstruction America.…

    • 1001 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Comparing W. E. B. Du Bois And Booker T. Washington
    • 537 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Comparing W. E. B. Du Bois And Booker T. Washington

    W.E.B Du Bois and Booker T. Washington were intelligent men that wanted equality for black Americans, however the paths they wanted to take were polar opposites. Washington was against agitating the South, government, and white people as a whole. Washington believed that the South would not find a better workforce or grateful workers than that of former slaves. He called upon on black and white Americans to ‘cast down your bucket where you are (Washington 25). He wanted black Americans to look for employment in places where they were and already experts, such as in agriculture and servitude positions. Washington wanted white Americans to employ black Americans, thereby assisting the transition from slavery to freedom. Du Bois knew that through the struggles of agitation, black voices would be hear and their words would eventually have to be heeded. According to du Bois, with human nature we do not always make the right choices, and wrong choices can create evil. There are two options, ‘either we must let the evil alone and refuse to hear of it or listen to it or we must try and right it’ (Du Bois 31). An agitator’s job is to fight so that the world will acknowledge to the injustices.…

    • 537 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    How Did Mlk Influence The Civil Rights Movement
    • 857 Words
    • 4 Pages

    How Did Mlk Influence The Civil Rights Movement

    Starting in the mid 1950’s and continuing through the late 1960’s, the African Civil Rights Movement made historic strides regarding the equality of black and white citizens. As any such groundbreaking movement, there were moments of both peace and violence, from the Montgomery Bus Boycott to the New York City Race Riots of 1964. Perhaps the most influential and well-known leader of the Civil Rights Movement was Martin Luther King Jr. He lobbied for equal rights for African Americans, while also promoting peaceful protests and a message of non-violence in general. However, it would be incorrect to cite MLK as the only influential African American figure during the time. Malcolm X, the Black Panther Party, and the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee also contributed the great strides of the movement that resulted in the Civil Rights act of 1964, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and the Fair Housing Act of 1968. However, while these 3 figures/parties all dealt with the racial…

    • 857 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Booker T Washington Influence
    • 182 Words
    • 1 Page

    Booker T Washington Influence

    I will examine the influence of Dr. Booker T. Washington on the history of American Universities and Colleges during the early 1900’s. My goal is to examine the leadership and innovative actions used by Dr. Washington to aid the needs of the first historically Black college and University. I will contemplate on Dr. Washington’s practices and compare enrollment rates, growth, curricula, and graduation rates to other established American Universities and Colleges in the same time period, as well as, Historically Black Colleges and Universities in the present.…

    • 182 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Compare And Contrast Washington And W. E. B Dubois
    • 1311 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Compare And Contrast Washington And W. E. B Dubois

    When racism was a huge problem in the U.S in the late 20th century there were two main African American leaders that stepped into play to help control the issues. Even though they were completely opposite both of them made huge changes in the segregation of the United States of America, the names Booker T. Washington and W.E.B Dubois will never be forgotten, As a consequence the rivalry between Booker T. Washington and W.E.B Du Bois is one well known to scholars and historians of the African American community. This paper compares and contrasts the ideals of Washington and Du Bois and identifies the difference between the two dealing with discrimination.…

    • 1311 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Booker T Washington Vs Dubois Analysis
    • 1842 Words
    • 8 Pages

    Booker T Washington Vs Dubois Analysis

    Washington was the nation’s most influential black leader. He had access to the most powerful political and business leaders in the United States. He would even become an advisor to the President. Washington was a former slave with no money who, with help; taught himself to read; was a very religious person; always the top student in his class; worked his way through school, and people admired him. Washington soothed white people and reassured black Americans as he counseled conciliation, patience, and agricultural and mechanical training as the most effective means to bridge the racial divide. His 1895 speech at the Cotton States Exposition in Atlanta elicited praise from both white and black listeners. (Darlene Clark Hine, et al., The African-American Odyssey, p. 443) Washington cleverly spoke in a way to raise up black aspirations without making white people fearful enough to kill and change laws. The south was only three decades out of the Civil War, and one of every three people was black. Many blacks in the south were kept illiterate and impoverished. Washington told whites that if they kept this up they will also be down. But, if they help lift blacks up, they and their community will also be lifted. He advised blacks to not be so distressed where they could not see the opportunity around them, and that their destiny was in the south. He also stated to cast down their buckets where they were in areas of trades and mechanics to live by production with their hands. During this time, black white collar workers such as lawyers could not find much work. Washington thought being a doctor was great, but stated; don't miss the opportunity in front of you right now. Washington also expressed to whites that black people have never treated them wrong and since their destiny rest in blacks, stop brutalizing them and help blacks get an education. Whites, at this time, feared blacks would vote and take over. Washington told whites…

    • 1842 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Booker T. Washington Book Review
    • 491 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Booker T. Washington Book Review

    Continuing from page 66, ‘The Tuskegee Idea’ goes into details about Booker T. Washington’s philosophy and the thriving start of Tuskegee institute. It also mentioned ideologies of black people during that time, such as ‘voting from principle’ and the ‘Ecoduster Movement’. The passage started by referred to Washington’s humble approach to gaining much need support from both white and black communities. According to the book, he knew that rich white people had the power and control to either help or hinder advancement.…

    • 491 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Booker T Washington Vs Dubois
    • 515 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Booker T Washington Vs Dubois

    Both Booker T. Washington and W.E.B DuBois differed on their views on how to assist african americans in their subhuman living conditions faced everyday. Both were aware about the importance of technological advancement for blacks as they thought it was one of the only ways for african americans to make it up higher in society. Washington had the belief that in order to essentially “solve” the race problem in america, african americans needed to “prove” themselves worthy of being reliable and good labor workers. This would fundamentally make them indispensable and a necessity in the economic makeup of the country. Washington felt as if blacks getting an education centered around industrial teachings in order for blacks to to become beneficial…

    • 515 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    What Is The Difference Between Washington And W. E. B. Dubois
    • 724 Words
    • 3 Pages

    What Is The Difference Between Washington And W. E. B. Dubois

    Although Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois were born eighteen years apart from each other, they both shared a common interest in trying to help get newly naturalised negroes into a predominantly white country. Washington was a slave from the time he was born (1856) until it was abolished after the civil war when he was nine, so he remembered his own personal experiences of what that was like. This definitely influenced his address to the Cotton States and INternational Exposition in Atlanta where he presented his proposal that negroes should take jobs that aid whites “in agriculture, mechanics, in commerce, in domestic service, and in the professions.” His proposal was derived from his background, and this meant that he did not want to…

    • 724 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    atlanta compromise analysis
    • 744 Words
    • 3 Pages

    atlanta compromise analysis

    In 1895 there was discrimination everywhere. In America people of African descent had a miserable existence. Less than 40 years earlier, they were either “owned” property, known as slaves, or lived a very humble, poverty stricken life. Booker T. Washington was among a number of very few blacks that were articulate, well educated, and well informed. He was aware that his life stood as an example to both blacks and whites that his race was capable of much more. His purpose was to bring the United States together and show how everyone could benefit. In this speech, Booker T. Washington uses many rhetorical devices to promote changes in the combined community of the nation. In his opening statements he was clear that the audience as a participating element in society should recognize the “American Negro”.…

    • 744 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More

Related Topics