Fiona​ ​Conway

Green​ ​Group

To heal the racial divides in American society, we need W.E.B. DuBois’ ideas. We are still far

from achieving racial equality between blacks and whites. Discrimination, wage gaps, and prejudices are

still large problems. According to the Pew Research Center, 79% of blacks still believe that “a lot needs

to be done in order to achieve racial equality.” Research by the Pew Research Center also says that

instead of closing gaps between blacks and whites, some gaps have widened. In 1985, on average,

whites earned $75,224 more than blacks in median household income. The already large gap widened to

$84,960​ ​in​ ​2012,​ ​increasing​ ​by​ ​$9,736​ ​(King’s​ ​Dream​ ​Remains​ ​an​ ​Elusive​ ​Goal).

Booker T. Washington, born a slave in Virginia in 1856, became known for his economically

centered views. Washington’s ideas were controversial to some blacks, because he didn’t focus on civil

and political rights. Instead, he believed in the importance of economic independence. He thought that

it wasn’t necessary for blacks to live alongside whites, as long as blacks had jobs and were able to

provide for themselves; a “separate but equal” society. Washington said, “In all things purely social we

can be as separate as the five fingers, and yet one as the hand in all things essential to human progress”

(​The Souls of Black Folk​). This means that socially blacks and whites don’t have to be together, but as a

human race they must work together. Booker T. Washington believed that the greatest impediment to

racial equality was blacks not making enough money, so they couldn’t live in their own society.

Washington believed that in order for blacks to be economically independent they needed to be

“educat[ed] in the crafts, industrial and farming skills and [cultivated in] the virtues of patience,

enterprise and thrift” (Booker T. & W.E.B.). Therefore, it can be inferred that Washington wanted

government assistance in schooling for blacks, but other than that did not seek much from the
Fiona​ ​Conway
Green​ ​Group

government because of his belief in self help. (“Nothing ever comes to one, that is worth having, except

as​ ​a​ ​result​ ​of​ ​hard​ ​work”​ ​(​Up​ ​From​ ​Slavery​).)

In contrast to Washington W.E.B. DuBois, born free in Massachusetts in 1868, held politically

centered views. In DuBois’ book, ​Souls of Black Folk​, he writes “The power of the ballot we need in sheer

defense, else what shall save us from a second slavery?” This means that blacks need to be able to vote

to get their voices heard, or else whites will institute policies that oppress blacks. DuBois also believed

that it was vital for blacks to be educated so that they could understand what they needed most. DuBois

said “Education must not simply teach work - it must teach life” (Booker T. & W.E.B.). DuBois believed

that the biggest impediment to racial equality in the United States was restriction on black voting rights

(e.g.​ ​poll​ ​taxes​ ​and​ ​literacy​ ​tests)​ ​and​ ​believed​ ​that​ ​the​ ​government​ ​should​ ​allow​ ​all​ ​black​ ​men​ ​to​ ​vote.

W.E.B. DuBois’ ideas would help narrow the racial divide in the country more than Washington’s

because they would move the country forward in ways not favored by Washington. Although

Washington was fighting for economic independence, which might help lift blacks economically,

Washington’s idea that civil rights weren’t as important would leave inequities in place. A study done by

the Pew Research Center says that only 32% of blacks believe that “a lot” of progress has been made

towards “Martin Luther King’s dream of racial equality” (King’s Dream Remains an Elusive Goal). King’s

main focus was on civil rights, so if Washington’s ideas were put into practice, it might lower the already

small percentage of blacks that believe a lot of progress has been made. DuBois’ ideas do, even if they

have a few shortcomings, however. For example, DuBois wanted a lot of government involvement and
Fiona​ ​Conway
Green​ ​Group

quick action. He created the Niagara Movement that was to end discrimination but it was “denounced

as radical by most whites at the time” (U.S. History). Today’s government has a Republican majority, so

DuBois might find it difficult to pass any laws. However, in the end DuBois would prove better because

he is fighting for many more rights than Washington, which would allow blacks to have their voices

heard and make the changes they want. This is why W.E.B. DuBois would be better than Booker T.

Washington​ ​at​ ​healing​ ​our​ ​racial​ ​relations​ ​in​ ​our​ ​current​ ​society.
Fiona​ ​Conway
Green​ ​Group

Works​ ​Cited

DuBois,​ ​William​ ​Edward​ ​Burdhardt.​ ​"Of​ ​Mr.​ ​Booker​ ​T.​ ​Washington​ ​and​ ​Others."

​ ​ ​ ​ ​The​ ​Souls​ ​of​ ​Black​ ​Folk​.​ ​Bartleby.com​,​ ​www.bartleby.com/114/3.html.

​ ​ ​ ​ ​Accessed​ ​22​ ​Oct.​ ​2017.

"King’s​ ​Dream​ ​Remains​ ​an​ ​Elusive​ ​Goal;​ ​Many​ ​Americans​ ​See​ ​Racial​ ​Disparities."

​ ​ ​ ​ ​Pew​ ​Research​ ​Center​,​ ​22​ ​Aug.​ ​2013,​ ​www.pewsocialtrends.org/2013/08/22/

​ ​ ​ ​ ​kings-dream-remains-an-elusive-goal-many-americans-see-racial-disparities/.

​ ​ ​ ​ ​Accessed​ ​22​ ​Oct.​ ​2017.

"Booker​ ​T.​ ​&​ ​W.E.B.:​ ​The​ ​Debate​ ​between​ ​W.E.B.​ ​DuBois​ ​and​ ​Booker​ ​T.​ ​Washington."

​ ​ ​ ​ ​PBS​,​ ​www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/race/etc/road.html.

​ ​ ​ ​ ​Accessed​ ​22​ ​Oct.​ ​2017.