2/20 Blog Post

Initially, after reading the “Atlanta Compromise” speech by Booker T. Washington, I agreed with the arguments he made. “Cast it (bucket) down in making friends in every manly way of the people of all races by whom we are surrounded.” Washington also said, “... interlacing our industrial, commercial, civil, and religious life with yours in a way that shall make the interests of both races one.” Washington saw integration into the white society for the African American; he believed that his people must start from the bottom-up, and climb upwards. However, W.E.B DuBois brought forth many satisfactory rebuttals against Washington. DuBois’ grievances with Washington include Washington asserting the “alleged inferiority of the Negro,” “manly self-respect is worth more than lands and houses, and that a people who voluntarily surrender such respect, or cease striving for it, are not worth civilizing.” These are strong, harsh words by DuBois. Although,I believe that he makes a great argument. It is not the African Americans fault for their social status, they need not to rebuild from the bottom-up. Washington asks his people to give up: “political power, civil rights, and the higher education of the Negro youth.” As these policies were enforced, disenfranchisement of the Negroes have occured, including the creation of a legal status of civil inferiority for the Negro, and the Negroes withdrawal from higher training.” DuBois says these results are from Washington’s “propaganda.” In The Talented Tenth, DuBois outright states that no civilization has ever not relied on a top-down mentality. On page 45, “Was there ever a nation on God's fair earth civilized from the bottom upward? Never; it is, ever was and ever will be from the top downward that culture filters.” Existing institutions have always passed knowledge downward, to those willing to listen. While Booker T. Washington was undoubtedly a mogul of his time, and most definitely delivered a “feel-good” speech, I believe W.E.B. DuBois brought forth concrete rebuttals, and suggests ideas which ultimately came to fruition.

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