African American Leadership: Two Voices, One Vision

booking agent T. working capital and W. E. B. Du Bois, two distinct figures, whom both found the latter break-dance of the 1800s, in need of speckership from within a segmented assoil radical of American Society were placed in odds over a single issue triumphful racial up snitch for the African American population. As in any case when the attention of the crowd together is at stake, the titanic collision of honed minds was inevit competent.The two men, sought to position their several(prenominal) plans as the predominate solution to solve racial in par and hand racial find come to the fore for population of former slaves and born free citizens in the United States.Booker T. capital of the United States, born into slavery, 1856, for the first nine years of his life, held that the black confederation must exercise patience. Any abrupt aggressive action by African Americans would be interpreted as threatening by the Caucasic majority therefore inviting justifi suitable incr eased discrimination against blacks. working capitals philosophy put forth the notion that blacks should be willing to cave in loving and governmental par, in ex interpolate for frugal liberty.The path to up lifting would be achieved through fidelity, being trusty worthy and industrial. Born free in 1868, W. E. B. Du Bois was the product of a respectable family that held position in the union of Great Barrington, Massachusetts. Du Bois believed the top ten percent or as he dubbed it the talented tenth of the African American population should focus completely their energy on higher education. The African American intellectuals would then lead the masses to a higher kindly rung.Protest, challenge, provocation were the watch haggling for Du Bois method. He cl archeozoic matt-up immediate political, social and racial equality was warranted. As stated by Jacqueline M. Moore, author and educator, Booker T. Washington, W. E. B. Du Bois, and the Struggle for racial Uplift, the de bate recognized that there were more than than two methods of racial uplift (Moore, p. 89) Washingtons views, was roughwhat misconstrued to believe he was selling place to the majority of American Society.While he felt that African Americans should not propel themselves into unwelcome arenas, he knew that political accomplishments were short lived and whimsical. His confidence was in the scotch and financial gains that were long term and wielded patent enchant. Washington was clever exuberant to quietly lobby majority law makers and polite organizations in shtup scene efforts to garner support for African American enfranchisement. Even more astute by Washington was his magnate to fund his educational docket from wealthy financial supporters.Du Bois took the position that Caucasian America should be held at an arms distance, neither rejecting nor embracing. He felt the way to eliminate emphasis between the racecourses was to create a synergy between being African Americ ans and the rest of America by utilizing the talents of the so called capable Tenth to lead the struggle for national racial equality. Thru Du bois multiple initiatives to further promote his cause, boost action and open protest to challenge racism and discrimination (Moore, p. 78) were precedent in his approach.Washington was convinced through hard work and the financial victory of entrepreneurial enterprises, respect and equality would be gained for African Americans and up lifting of the race would be a natural evolutionary process. Clearly because of his experiences as a former slave, Washingtons philosophy was influence by decision and work ethic. Educated at Hampton Institute, a vocational institution, described as progressive, training people for skilled work. (Moore, 21), was the capstone of Washingtons impulse to continue educating African Americans in skilled trades.In direct opposition to Washingtons vision of an industrial ameliorated populace that would cleans e thru commerce, Du Bois selected Talented Tenth would help others to fight for the rights for the race(Moore, 62) with their knowledge of modern society. This persona of comparison epitomizes the differences of the two visionaries, however Washingtons approach is close as well as brilliant, Under the guise of maintaining the social hierarchy, he was able to create a strong, independent, black-run institution (Moore, 28).While outwardly going along with the polish office quo, Washington tacitly used his economic prowess to build a tangible independent entity capable of choosing its own destiny and purpose. All the maculation Du Bois relied solely on rhetoric and the intellectual elite to build his constituency to improve the status of African Americans. Judging from racial attitudes in seemly compound Great Barrington, Massachusetts, Du Bois was denied community sponsored scholarship to Harvard University. Further acknowledgement of the less than rarefied racial setting, Du B ois attended integrated schools, adult blacks and flannels did not mingle socially,(Moore, 39).Historically African American college Fisk University did offer him a scholarship. Author Jacqueline M. Moore was injudicious in her conclusion, he (Washington) was the only one capable of negotiating with both the white North and the white South and that outspoken protest would simply make matters worse (Moore, 68). misunderstanding his silence for weakness overlooks effective lobbying in politics and underlying influence in advancing the African American race. Du Bois stance towards racial equality is the central criticism of Washington.Du Bois felt that Washington was allowing Caucasian America off the hook of responsibility. While they both suitd institutional segregation had to end, Du bois felt strongly that African Americans were owed assistance from the general society. Solving the race billet required everyones involvement (Moore, 72). Washington chose self up lift from the collective boot straps. Clearly Washingtons experience as an ex-slave impacted his work ethic and decision making process and shaped his views of how African Americans should advance the struggle for equality.Comparatively Du Bois argued that Washington was subservient toward the majority regularization and racial discrimination. Racial discrimination and violence was at an all eon high, however Du Bois model for protest, higher education, and a demand for immediate social and political equality was hollow without effective means. The establishment of several civic and social organizations by Du Bois could only voice outrage and indignation. There was no real force behind the effort to motivate people to change on both sides of the racial divide.Washington was widely accused of pandering and compromising by contemporaries as well as scholars of today. What is clearly overlooked is Washington uncanny foresight of recognizing the importance of financial and economic gains over socia l gains, Blacks would agree not to push for social and political equality if whites would agree not to exclude them from economic progress (Moore, 33). This statement alone underscores his ability to correctly comprehend what drives a capitalistic society, even in the early 1900s, and to predict the necessary tool for the future is clearly defined as economic progress.Another popular misconception was that Washington focused on presenting African Americans as well dressed, polite educated puppets that could discuss the plight of their people with out offending the listening audience. The message would be a softer, more refreshing presentation for the gentile surrounding. While that may prevail been an actual guide on used by Washington, it was only a well thought maneuver to fund his educational institution, Tuskegee Institute, by well heeled benefactors. He now favored influence as well as philanthropic support that would educate the next generation of resourceful, independent entrepreneurs.If his vision had been realized, financially successful enterprises started in 1900s possibly could have survived today or subsidiaries that would be in existence to hire the todays African American professionals at all levels. Once could only imagine the business knowledge gained and economic success of competitive entities started during the industrial age. Washington may have sacrificed some short lived dignity, but he realized that un-restrain economic growth is tangible and sustains while intellectual accomplishments does not protect or shelter.In the final analysis, the mental testing of how Du Bois and Washington sought out a collective political, social and sparing agenda in the midst of national racial turmoil during the winding of the century is an interesting analogy of todays civil rights lead agenda. Washingtons method was clearly the most beneficial for the onward motion of African Americans for then as well as today. Promoting economic success was the most fundamental element in the struggle for racial uplift.Understanding and able to recognize the changing economic conditions would allow the national objective of racial equality to be the sole issue versus both combined as they are today. As an active participant in the industrial revolution, Washington recognized success as access to business opportunities with a prat in industrial education. Compared to modern day choices, ground floor cyberspace opportunity or NAACP internship? Washingtons was option was clearly the proper(a) path, noted by the number of successful African American business that flourished during segregation, i.e. Johnson Publishing, A. G. Gaston Insurance, Motown, etc compared full to racial integration era business successes they remain in African American control. Even though African Americans had limited political power and remained segregated socially, pure economic growth would have intensify true racial uplift and the issue of economical inequal ity would have been an issue of the past. Booker T. Washington, W. E. B. Du Bois, and the Struggle for Racial Uplift, Jacqueline M. Moore Wilmington , Delaware Scholarly Resources, 2003.