Washington vs. DuBois Group 5 by Course Materials

Booker T. Washington

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W.E.B. DuBois

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3) WHAT DO THEY AGREE AND DISAGREE ON?

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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.

4) WHO IS RIGHT?

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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.

1) PROGRESSIVE?

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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

2) PROGRESSIVE?

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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

INSTRUCTIONS

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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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Gracie TerMeer

2026-02-03 18:50:11 UTC

After reading document 21-5 and learning about the definition of Progressivism, I can tell that Booker T. Washington played a huge role in the Progressive movement. In my opinion, I feel that his role may have been very different from others at this time. In document 21-5 it says, "It is at the bottom of life we must begin, not the top." This quote is saying that African Americans must work their way up and understand that no people should just get to be at the top. I think that this may have been a different thought from others at this time because he was not acting like they deserved everything, he just wanted to give them the chance to work hard for things. He then could have used this mindset to become a very successful progressive activist.

Gracie TerMeer

2026-02-03 18:56:41 UTC

One strong piece of evidence that shows how DuBois was apart of the Progressive movement came from document 21-6. According to the text, "... the burden belongs to the nation, and the hands of none of us are clean if we bend our energies to righting these great wrongs." Although in this quote he was trying to go against what others had done in the past, it shows that he himself wants to make a change and wants to encourage others to work to make a change as well. He knew that he could not just sit back and watch, he had to be progressive. If nothing was done, then everyone who did nothing was to blame, and he wanted to be sure that he was not apart of that group.

Gracie TerMeer

2026-02-03 19:02:15 UTC

The key that I am going to be hitting on between Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. DuBois is something that they did not agree on to get to the same path. The greatest example of this was how much action African Americans should have been taking. In document 21-6 we read, "... Negro can only survive through submission. Mr. Washington distinctly asks that black people give up." In this quote, DuBois is saying that Washington thinks that African Americans should try to agree with others, play it nice, and sit back and relax. However, DuBois thought that this was a terrible idea. He later goes on to state that he thinks African Americans need to take action. In his case, he thought that doing nothing was the worst thing you could do. Both of them strongly opposed the others idea, however, they defiantly both had there pros and cons.

Gracie TerMeer

2026-02-03 19:15:26 UTC

This is an extremely difficult question to answer as both men did equally important things for all African Americans. Washington gave them the ability to live well at the present time while Dubois set them up for the future. However, since this question is asking who makes a better argument for their time, I will have to go with Booker T. Washington. "... you will find that they will buy your surplus land, make blossom the waste places in your fields, and run your factories." In this quote by Washington, he is trying to help the African Americans understand that they need to build up a base life for themselves and then the rest of the country would come running. At this time, this was the best approach because they had nothing. Washington wanted them to work from the bottom up and Dubois wanted them to work from the top down, which unfortunately needed more time.

Isaac Jacobs

isaacjacobs1104 — 2026-02-05 14:38:20 UTC

Booker T. Washington can be considered progressive in the sense that he sought practical ways for African Americans to improve their lives after the Civil War. His approach emphasized vocational education, self-help, and economic advancement rather than directly challenging segregation and disenfranchisement. Washington believed that African Americans could gradually gain respect and equality by proving their value to society through work and enterprise. However, some historians argue that his accommodationist stance limited immediate social and political progress, making him less radical than other progressives of his era.

Isaac Jacobs

isaacjacobs1104 — 2026-02-05 14:40:06 UTC

W.E.B. DuBois was progressive in a different way. He argued for immediate political and civil rights for African Americans, advocating higher education for the “Talented Tenth” to lead the race. DuBois challenged the status quo of segregation and white supremacy and called for direct action against injustice. His vision was more confrontational than Washington’s, aiming to reshape American society to recognize African Americans as full citizens rather than waiting for gradual acceptance.

Isaac Jacobs

isaacjacobs1104 — 2026-02-05 14:41:43 UTC

Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. DuBois both wanted African Americans to improve their social and economic standing, and they agreed that education was a key part of that goal. They also both sought to uplift the Black community and reduce poverty, though their strategies differed. Washington believed in vocational training and gradual progress, focusing on teaching practical skills that would allow African Americans to gain economic stability and earn respect from white society. DuBois, on the other hand, argued for immediate political and civil rights, emphasizing higher education for the “Talented Tenth” to lead the race. This fundamental difference in strategy created a clear divide between the two men: Washington favored accommodation to survive in a hostile society, while DuBois pushed for direct confrontation of inequality. Despite these disagreements, both were committed to improving the lives of African Americans in a period of intense discrimination. Ultimately, their contrasting approaches reflect the tension between short-term survival and long-term social justice in the post-Reconstruction era.

Isaac Jacobs

isaacjacobs1104 — 2026-02-05 14:43:22 UTC

Washington’s argument may have been more pragmatic for his time, particularly in the post-Reconstruction South, where violent backlash against African Americans was common. His focus on vocational skills and self-reliance helped many survive and build economic foundations.
DuBois’ argument was more idealistic and forward-looking, laying the intellectual foundation for the civil rights movement. While less immediately feasible in the South of the late 19th century, his push for civil and political rights anticipated the future struggle for equality.

Molly Webster

2026-02-05 17:54:11 UTC

Booker T. Washington was somewhat progressive, according to The American Yawp. He believed African Americans should focus on education, job skills, and economic success first. In his Atlanta Compromise, he accepted segregation temporarily instead of calling for equality right then. He promoted self improvement and economic progress. But, he was not fully progressive since he did not challenge segregation or discrimination at that time.

Alyssa Miller

2026-02-05 21:58:33 UTC

Booker T. Washington was someone who was progressive. Especially with his values on education helping bring up the economy into even focused on self help. All of these things fit the progressive era of reform and improvement. Even though these things were progressive, he was not progressive in trying to challenge segregation or certain political differences. Booker T. Washington instead saw these things and accepted them and called them short-term realities.

Alyssa Miller

2026-02-05 22:06:36 UTC

W.E.B Du Bois really fought to have immediate civil rights. He also really wanted and fought for higher education for African-Americans. He even fought to have political equality. These are all really big signs of being progressive, which, in this case he obviously was. He was someone who really embraced protesting and used data and social science to help expose racism to fight for African-Americans. To show that African-Americans can have higher education. This was called the “ talented tenth” and it helped push for cinematic reform by creating organizations like the NAACP.

Alyssa Miller

2026-02-05 22:17:25 UTC

Something that both Washington and Du Bois agreed on was that education needed to be approved for African-Americans to help to accomplish racial improvement. But they did disagree on some things. That main thing was their policies and how they planed things. Du Bois wanted direct protest and get full civil rights whereas Washington supported specific education and kind of just let civil rights pass by. It didn’t really care to protest as he accommodated with segregation to an extent.

Alyssa Miller

2026-02-05 22:18:05 UTC

In my opinion, I think Du Bois was correct. He made stronger long-term arguments by really fighting for rights and inequality and he became central to the civil rights movement later on. Whereas Washington arguments were more straight to the point, for really segregated places that were violent in the south of the 1890s. But with this, it caused open resistance that led to really bad negative reactions by large numbers of people.

Molly Webster

2026-02-05 23:25:32 UTC

I would say W.E.B. Du Bois was progressive. According to The American Yawp, he believed African Americans should demand full civil rights and equal treatment immdiatly. Du Bois supported higher education for African Americans and helped found the NAACP to fight discrimination by protesting and legal action. He openly challenged segregation/racism, which leads me to say he was a progressive.

Molly Webster

2026-02-05 23:59:41 UTC

Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois both agreed that education was important for improving the lives of African Americans. They also wanted progress and better opportunities after Reconstruction. But, they disagreed on how to achieve equality. Washington believed African Americans should focus on job skills and economic success first while accepting segregation for a little. Du Bois believed African Americans should demand full civil rights immediately and fight segregation through protest and legl action.

Molly Webster

2026-02-06 00:10:00 UTC

Using The American Yawp, W.E.B. Du Bois makes a stronger argument for Black civil rights in this era.

Du Bois believed African Americans should demand full civil and political rights immediately, not wait. He argued that accepting segregation, like Washington suggested, allowed racism to continue. Du Bois’s support for protest, higher education, and organizations like the NAACP challenged discrimination and pushed for real legal and social change. During this era there was a lot of segregation and violence. He did more to immediately affect those issues.

Nathaniel Schaefer

2026-02-06 00:55:25 UTC

Booker T. Washington is progressive because he focuses on how the lives of African Americans can be improved. He says that Black Americans need to invest in “agriculture, mechanics, in commerce, in domestic service, and in the professions,” which shows that he sees work and education as a realistic path to their success. This means that even under segregation, he believes that African Americans still have the power to create a good life for themselves.

Nathaniel Schaefer

2026-02-06 00:56:52 UTC

W.E.B. DuBois is progressive because he pushes for immediate civil rights and higher education for African Americans. He criticizes Washington, saying, “In answer to this, it has been claimed that the Negro can survive only through submission. Mr. Washington distinctly asks that black people give up three things, first political power, second insistence on civil rights, third higher education of Negro youth and concentrate all their energies on industrial education, the accumulation of wealth, and the conciliation of the South.” This shows that DuBois believed African Americans needed full political rights and education. His argument is progressive because it calls for reform through leadership and civic engagement instead of patient compromise.

Nathaniel Schaefer

2026-02-06 00:57:39 UTC

Washington and DuBois both agree that education is essential for African American progress, but they disagree on how that should be accomplished. Washington focuses on industrial education first, while DuBois argues that higher education and political rights cannot wait. Washington wants cooperation with whites and gradual change, saying the races can be “as separate as the fingers yet one as the hand,” while DuBois believes compromise allows segregation and disenfranchisement to continue. Their disagreement is over whether progress should be earned slowly through work or demanded immediately as a right.

Nathaniel Schaefer

2026-02-06 00:58:18 UTC

DuBois makes a stronger argument for his time because Washington’s compromise left African Americans vulnerable. DuBois points out that while Washington promoted patience, the results included “the disfranchisement of the Negro” and restrictions on higher education. His argument is stronger because he understands that without political rights, economic progress cannot be protected. In the era of Jim Crow, demanding equality and education first was the only way to secure lasting progress.