Term Paper on "Booker T. Washington's View of Reconstruction and Its Impact Upon African Americans in the South"

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Economic rights -- Booker T. Washington recognized that economic power was one of the few paths of advancement not denied to African-Americans. He believed that economic power was the key to further advancement for African-Americans. He reasoned that, if Whites begin to view African-Americans thrifty, industrious owners of property, African-Americans will eventually be granted equal rights.

Political rights -- Booker T. Washington took very conservative political positions on African-American political rights. He chose not to press the White South for civil rights, voting rights, or access to higher education for African-Americans. Instead, he accommodated Segregation as a means of building goodwill with the Whites. However, he did secretly fund legal battles involving the rights of African-Americans.

Leadership in the African-American communities of the United States -- Washington believed that the leaders of the African-American community should build support at the grassroots, community level. He also advocated cooperation with leaders of other powerful groups in order to build goodwill. He even promoted cooperation with the White Southerners who were opposed to the advancement of African-Americans.

Reconstruction -- Washington thought that the Reconstruction era did little to develop African-American capacity for self-reliance. He remembers that African-Americans "…looked to the federal government for everything, very much like a child looks to his mother…." (Slavery, Chapter 5) Because of this, he did not think that African-Americans were ready for the "duties of citizenship."

W.E.B. DuBois's Views

Education -- W.E.B. DuBois advocated a Liberal Arts education, which he described as training DuBois believed that education was crucial to rescue the African-American mind from centuries of psychological abuse and self-hate. He believed that it "was not merely a passport to social and professional standing but the master key to collective empowerment as well." (Souls, 103)

Economic rights -- DuBois had a very broad, international view of economics and capitliasm. This made him a harsh critic of the American capitalist system and he recognized that African-Americans were starting at the bottom of that system. DuBois advocated essentially Socialist views, believing that African-Americans would have to show solidarity with workers in other parts of the world in order to achieve a fair place in society.

Political rights -- DuBois sought civil rights, voting rights, and access to higher education. He believed that these rights… READ MORE