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In my personal opinion, although they both advocated for important issues, I believe that W.E.B. Du Bois had the more important claim. His argument for change was very bold and would take a lot of work, but I think that his argument would be best for the time period. He is insiting the need for the right to vote, civic equality, and equal education. He focuses on the issues that African Americans are in need of right then, instead of slow change. America did not need to sit and wait; they were in need of a powerful voice. He ends his claim in 21-6 with, “...the burden belongs to the nation, and the hands of none of us are clean if we bend not our energies to righting these great wrongs.” He ends the expert with a call to action, encouraging people to use what they can to fight back against the wrongdoings that were taking place. Lastly, he made the better argument overall because it was clearly written and was filled with great evidence of what Washington believed.

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What did they agree and disagree on?

W.E.B. Du Bois and Booker T. Washington definitely had there differences, but in the end, they were fighting for the same goal. They both agreed that African Americans should improve their conditions. However, Booker T. Washington still accepted segregation. In 21-6, Du Bois claims, “Mr. Washington distinctly asks that black people give up, at least for the present, three things…” He begins his list with what he wanted to focus on: political power, civil rights, and higher education for Negro youth. Du Bois did not like that Washington thought that they should start first with economic self-help; instead, he wanted political freedom, voting rights, and college level education.

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I think DuBois makes the better argument for his time in history. Black Americans were facing harsh racism and unfair laws, so slow change didn’t match what was happening around them. Du Bois pushed for immediate action and said Black Americans deserved “full political and social rights,” which fit the moment. His focus on voting, education, and standing up to injustice made more sense for the problems people were dealing with. Because of that, I think his argument was stronger for that period in history.

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Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois agreed that Black Americans deserved better lives, but they disagreed on how to get there. Washington believed progress came slowly through work and training, and the book notes he pushed ideas of “patience and self‑help.” Du Bois thought this approach was too soft and argued that Black Americans needed “full political and social rights” right away. Washington wanted cooperation with white leaders, while Du Bois wanted direct action and protest. Because of these differences, they often clashed on the best path toward equality.

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W.E.B. Du Bois can be seen as Progressive because he pushed for major changes in civil rights and education for Black Americans. The book explains that Du Bois argued that Black Americans should fight for “full political and social rights,” which matches the Progressive Era’s push for reform. He believed in using activism, voting, and higher education to challenge racism directly. This made him very different from leaders who wanted slower or quieter change. Overall, Du Bois fits the Progressive label because he pushed hard for equality and major social improvements.

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Booker T. Washington can be seen as partly Progressive because he pushed for education and economic improvement for Black Americans. The book explains that Washington believed progress came from “work, skill, and patience,” which fits some Progressive ideas. He wanted Black people to gain power through jobs and training instead of fighting laws directly. Some people say this made him too slow to challenge racism, so he didn’t match all Progressive goals. Overall, he was Progressive in some ways but not in every way.

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Was W.E.B Du Bois Progressive?

Yes, W.E.B Du Bois was progressive. One of the values that Du Bois held close was political power, civil rights, and higher education for Negro youth. 21-6 states, “Is it possible, and probable, that nine millions of men can make effective progress in economic lines if they are deprived of political rights, made a servile caste, and allowed only the most meager chance for developing their exceptional men?” Du Bois is taking the progressive approach of encouraging action. He wanted equal treatment now rather than later.

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Who Is Right?

I believe that DuBois made a better argument. While I understand why people supported Washington's movement, it is cruel to ask your people to continue to accept civil inequalities after they've dealt with discrimination for years. DuBois wrote, "Is it possible ... [that] men can make effective progress in economic lines if they are deprived of political rights," which spoke volumes to me, because how can African Americans fight for their rights and gain the votes to protect themselves if they are never given the political power to do so? Overall, I believe DuBois made the better argument because of his examples and rebuttals to Washington's arguments.

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What Do They Agree And Disagree On?

They both agree that they want African Americans to have more rights. However, Washington did not want to see the integration of African Americans into white schools or social circles; he wanted African Americans to have the same industrial rights as Whites, hoping to give them a better chance to make more money. DuBois also wanted African Americans to have more rights within the workplace, although he disagrees with Washington about nearly everything else. DuBois wanted equality in education, politics, social life, and work place. They both agree that African Americans deserve more rights, but they disagree about what those rights should be.

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Was W.E.B. DuBois progressive?

Yes, DuBois was progressive. He wanted equality between races, which is a contrast to Washington's aspirations. DuBois, in fact, critiqued Washington, writing, "His doctrine has tended to make the whites, North and South, shift the burden of the Negro problem to the Negro's shoulders," which illustrates how frustrated DuBois felt that Washington was willing to let go of civil rights for money. He also mentioned that African Americans can't stand up for their own rights when they don't have any power politically. DuBois wanted equality in all fields, not only industrial, but social and political too.

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Was Booker T. Washington Progressive?

Booker T. Washington was progressive in most ways. He believed in equal opportunity and work for all races within the workforce; however, he accepted social segregation, as he says in 21-5, "In all things that are purely social we can be as separate as the fingers," which demonstrates his perspective on keeping races socially separated. His views on racial integration within the workplace are considered progressive, while his views on social segregation are not regarded as progressive.

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Who is correct?

While both of them stood for the same thing and had an incredible impact on the progressive movement, I think Washington is more in the right. Washington's argument was better because he was primarily focused on patience during this time, while Du Bois demanded it. I think the way Washington handled it was better for this time. So while they both had the same end goal, the way Washington went for it was better.

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Was Booker T. Washington a Progressive?

Booker T. Washington was progressive when it came to African Americans and white people in the workplace. In Reading the American Past, 21-5, he states, “‘Cast down your bucket where you are’- cast it down in making friends in every manly way of the peoples of all races by whom we are surrounded.” In other words, he is saying that they should try to improve their lives right now with the system in place. In addition, he also speaks out for education. But, he is not progressive with his acceptance of segregation, which is in contrast to the progressive goals.

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What did they agree/disagree on?

While both of them stood for independence, they had different ways of getting there. However, with that being said, they still agreed on the overall accomplishment they wanted. In the American Yawp 21-5, Washington stood for education, and in 21-6, Du Bois encourages that idea. While they may not have agreed on everything, they both wanted Black Americans uplifted. Something they differed on was how to achieve this uplift and equality. Even though they wanted the same end goal, they definitely had their agreements along with differences. Washington especially wanted patience within it, and Du Bois strictly wanted them to demand it. They had the same end goal, just not the same way of achieving it.

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Was W.E.B Du Bois Progressive?

Yes, Du Bois was much more progressive. "The legal creation of a distinct status of civil inferiority for the negro". This quote from document 21-6 of the American Yawp shows that he wanted injustice exposed. He showed extreme criticism of injustice and wanted equality. He believed that society should fix injustice. This stands with everything the progressives wanted. They fought for equal treatment along with fair laws. He stood with them and wanted rights, along with a protest. While Washington wanted the same, they had different ways of handling it.

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Was Booker. T Washington a progressive?

Booker T. Washington was progressive in some ways. His main focus consisted of reforms. Most progressives did not show a huge interest in race relations, but Washington showed the most interest at this time. He showed he was not completely a part of the progressive movement during the Atlanta exposition by saying, "in making friends in every manly way of the people of all races by whom we are surrounded". This shows that he cared more about disputing with southern whites than about the strategies of the progressive era.

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Who Makes a Better Argument for Their Time? Washington’s argument fit the moment. Violence, exclusion, and Jim Crow were real threats. Survival mattered. His caution reduced risk. But Du Bois offered the stronger moral case. His argument exposed the cost of delay. Rights postponed were rights denied. In the short term, Washington was practical. In the long term, Du Bois was right. History moved toward Du Bois’s vision.

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What Did They Agree or Disagree On? They agreed on the goal. Both wanted Black advancement and dignity. They disagreed on the path. Washington emphasized labor, patience, and compromise. Du Bois emphasized rights, education, and protest. Washington trusted white goodwill. Du Bois trusted organized resistance. Economic stability was prioritized by one. Political equality was prioritized by the other.

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Was W.E.B. Du Bois Progressive? Yes. More directly and more forcefully. Du Bois demanded immediate civil and political rights. He rejected the idea that equality could wait. Education mattered deeply to him. He believed a “Talented Tenth” would lead racial progress. Voting rights and legal equality were non-negotiable. Segregation was challenged, not accepted. Injustice was named and confronted. Progress, in his view, required pressure.

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Was Booker T. Washington Progressive?

Yes but in a limited way. Washington promoted economic progress over political rights. He believed Black Americans should first gain skills, property, and respect through labor.
Racial equality, he argued, would come later. This was a practical strategy. It worked within segregation, not against it. Change was expected to come slowly. Political protest was discouraged. His vision was progressive in method, not in demand. Accommodation was chosen over confrontation.

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Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. DuBois were contemporary activists in the Progressive Era who were both interested in advancing the lives of black Americans.

After watching this Unit's lecture and reading Chapter 20 Sections I, II & VI, use documents 21-5 and 21-6 in Reading the American Past to  add a post next to ALL FOUR items below.

Put your name in the header of each of your posts.

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Based on the definition of Progressivism explained in Lecture I and American Yawp, offer at least one piece of evidence from 21-6 "Booker T. Washington & Others"
that shows how DuBois is or isn't part of the Progressive movement

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Based on the definition of Progressivism explained in Lecture I and American Yawp, offer at least one piece of evidence from 21-5 "The Atlanta Exposition" that shows how Washington is or isn't part of the Progressive movement

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For their time, which do you think makes a better argument about how to advanc black civil rights in this era in American history? Why? Be sure to tie your opinion to evidence.

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Even people with similar goals don't always see the same path to getting there. Post at least one point they agree on OR one point they disagree on and evidence to support it.