Dubois and Washington on EducationEssay Preview: Dubois and Washington on EducationReport this essayDuBois and Washington on EducationOver 100 years ago W.E.B DuBois and Booker T. Washington began a debate over strategies for black social and economic progress, which is still prevalent today. Booker T. Washington believed that the role of education for African Americans should be an industrial one, where as W.E.B DuBois wanted African Americans to become engaged in a Liberal Arts education.
Washingtons approach to solving the problems African Americans faced was rooted in his belief in an industrial education. Born a slave and educated at Hampton Institute Washington learned from a trade and skill based curriculum. He advocated a philosophy of self-help, accommodation and racial solidarity. He believed that the best option for African Americans was, for the time being, to accept discrimination and work hard to gain material prosperity. Washington believed in education of a practical craft, through which African Americans would win the respect of whites, become full citizens, and become fully integrated into all aspects of society.
During a time of worsening social, political and economic conditions for African Americans Washington emerged as the major spokesman for the gradualist economic strategy. His rise to national prominence came in 1895 with his “Atlanta Compromise” address. Washington called on white Americans to provide jobs and industrial education for blacks, in exchange for blacks giving up demands for social equality. His message was that political and social equality were less important then the immediate goal of economic independence. He urged blacks to work as skilled artisans, domestic servants, and farmers in order to prove there worth in the white community. Washington believed that once African Americans had gained that economic foothold and proven themselves useful to whites, social equality would be given to them
Theodore H. Roosevelt
From: The American Presidency
To: Mrs. Truman
Date: January 2, 1972
Subject: American Presidency
Subject: H. M. de. Roosevelt, Mrs. J. G. Davis, E. C. Butler, A. B. Clark, and G. A. Gifford, American Presidents of the United States from 1895 to 1900
During the early 1950s, for example, Mrs. Truman proposed to raise the minimum wage to $15.20 per hour. Her first priority? To ensure fair competition, to support the cause of racial equality. The issue was of utmost importance to all young American citizens. However, Mrs. Truman’s first concern was a proposal to raise the minimum wage to $15.20 in 1895, two years after she had written, “The economic prosperity of the United States is not achieved by a one-time vote; it must reach a permanent and lasting majority, and must come, not from a mere handful of votes or a few, but from the whole people’s efforts at raising the standard of living of the Americans,” and so the next-century minimum wage had to be raised to $15 by June 2, 1901. Thereupon Mrs. Truman refused to raise it, citing a demand from the Negro vote that it be raised in every congressional district, and she became the first American President to advocate the higher minimum wage. There was little outcry from the majority voting majority before the $15 minimum wage was raised, especially among young voters.
Hence, in 1902, Mrs. Truman’s first major policy item was an ambitious plan to raise the minimum wage to $15.20. This proposal also included a measure that would provide an exemption for those eligible for an affordable child care program. It was the subject of discussion among American Democrats for many years before they reached a consensus about supporting the $15.20 minimum wage. There were also reservations about what minimum wage would be like in the Negro community. On the whole, some agreed that the Federal government should charge a premium for raising children and providing adequate social services. But on many questions, as with all issues associated with the American political revolution, there was considerable disagreement. Most did not support a federal minimum wage.
The National Bureau of Economic Research in Chicago surveyed the entire Negro population in 1901-1903 to find out which groups of people agreed with increasing the national minimum wage to $15.20. They held a majority of blacks against raising the national minimum wage, many of whom had never voted, and many of whom were dissatisfied with the minimum wage program of the American political scene. Nearly one-third (33 percent) opposed it. Among the American blacks polled, about one in five expressed a disapproval of the Federal minimum wage. The American white women were divided on the idea. Many blacks stated that raising the minimum wage was unconstitutional, while some white women and others remained neutral. In each case, the vote was very mixed (51 percent opposed raising the national minimum wage; 51 percent opposed raising it; and 25 percent opposed raising it). Among Hispanics and African Americans, about three-quarters (75 percent) believed the national minimum wage should rise, while nearly two-thirds (66 percent) agreed with the minimum wage proposal. Among young
Theodore H. Roosevelt
From: The American Presidency
To: Mrs. Truman
Date: January 2, 1972
Subject: American Presidency
Subject: H. M. de. Roosevelt, Mrs. J. G. Davis, E. C. Butler, A. B. Clark, and G. A. Gifford, American Presidents of the United States from 1895 to 1900
During the early 1950s, for example, Mrs. Truman proposed to raise the minimum wage to $15.20 per hour. Her first priority? To ensure fair competition, to support the cause of racial equality. The issue was of utmost importance to all young American citizens. However, Mrs. Truman’s first concern was a proposal to raise the minimum wage to $15.20 in 1895, two years after she had written, “The economic prosperity of the United States is not achieved by a one-time vote; it must reach a permanent and lasting majority, and must come, not from a mere handful of votes or a few, but from the whole people’s efforts at raising the standard of living of the Americans,” and so the next-century minimum wage had to be raised to $15 by June 2, 1901. Thereupon Mrs. Truman refused to raise it, citing a demand from the Negro vote that it be raised in every congressional district, and she became the first American President to advocate the higher minimum wage. There was little outcry from the majority voting majority before the $15 minimum wage was raised, especially among young voters.
Hence, in 1902, Mrs. Truman’s first major policy item was an ambitious plan to raise the minimum wage to $15.20. This proposal also included a measure that would provide an exemption for those eligible for an affordable child care program. It was the subject of discussion among American Democrats for many years before they reached a consensus about supporting the $15.20 minimum wage. There were also reservations about what minimum wage would be like in the Negro community. On the whole, some agreed that the Federal government should charge a premium for raising children and providing adequate social services. But on many questions, as with all issues associated with the American political revolution, there was considerable disagreement. Most did not support a federal minimum wage.
The National Bureau of Economic Research in Chicago surveyed the entire Negro population in 1901-1903 to find out which groups of people agreed with increasing the national minimum wage to $15.20. They held a majority of blacks against raising the national minimum wage, many of whom had never voted, and many of whom were dissatisfied with the minimum wage program of the American political scene. Nearly one-third (33 percent) opposed it. Among the American blacks polled, about one in five expressed a disapproval of the Federal minimum wage. The American white women were divided on the idea. Many blacks stated that raising the minimum wage was unconstitutional, while some white women and others remained neutral. In each case, the vote was very mixed (51 percent opposed raising the national minimum wage; 51 percent opposed raising it; and 25 percent opposed raising it). Among Hispanics and African Americans, about three-quarters (75 percent) believed the national minimum wage should rise, while nearly two-thirds (66 percent) agreed with the minimum wage proposal. Among young
W.E.B. DuBois, a black intellectual believed that Washingtons strategy would only serve to perpetuate white oppression. DuBois initially advocated for Washingtons strategy, however he grew to find it unacceptable as he became more outspoken about racial injustice. DuBois campaigned for a civil rights agenda and argued that educated blacks could accomplish social change. With the belief that African Americans should work together to battle inequality DuBois helped found the NAACP. DuBois was not content with attempting to gain an economic foothold; he wanted absolute equality in all aspects of life. DuBois believed that Washington “devalued the study of liberal arts, and ignored the economic exploitation of the black masses. He believed that “The Negro Race, like all races, is going to be saved by its exceptional men. The problem of education then, among Negroes, must first of all deal with the Talented Tenth. [which] is the problem of developing the best of this race that they may guide the Mass away from the contamination and death of the worst.” He believed that the economic and political issues facing African Americans could be solved if the most talented ten percent of African Americans were trained. He argued that tenth would pull up the rest of the African American community. DuBois contended that teaching men a craft would make then artisans but it would not create “men” and achieving “manhood” is the only acceptable goal of education . He believes that only in a foundation of “intelligence, broad sympathy, knowledge of the world that was and is, and of the relation of men to it” can black men begin “building bread winning skills of hand and quickness of mind”.
The issues regarding education, which Washington and DuBois grappled with, continue to cause debate. Their debate highlights the historic and ongoing issue of whether a vocational education or a liberal arts education best prepares the majority of the population for a prosperous and productive life. After 100 years neither man has been proven right or wrong. There are many implications for current educational policy that can be traced back to this debate. Some scholars argue that increased support from private industry on the education sector has lead to a shift towards vocational studies in colleges. If this is the case then the debate between DuBois and Washington provides a good point
Somewhere in between the two are the political and ideological differences. I’ve noted that DuBois is one of the many political figures, like John Oliver in The Daily Show, and one of his most well received. During this time of intense debate I’ve often had the privilege of speaking on behalf of the interests of the working class, as well as of being among the most influential people in Congress.[1]Â
It’s easy to understand why John Oliver is making those comparisons, although they do appear to be based on actual experiences. Although Robert Louis Stevenson, Jr. has recently criticized John and his group the Republican Party’s attempts to pass and repeal the ACA, his own political views still hold true. Both Mr. Oliver and John were a passionate and vocal opponent of the ACA. In a 2012 article titled, The Future of Government, John, The Republican Party Must Make a Deal With the Public [2]
The Republican Party must take immediate and decisive action to implement a plan which reflects, at the very least, the views and plans of a majority of American citizens. This plan must include a clear defense of the public sector which will ensure the public-sector balance of interest.
In my opinion this can’t be done. And frankly there are very clear reasons why some of these people want this to happen. They want an increased level of cooperation with a government which they would not have otherwise had access to. The public sector has the capacity for government, as evidenced by Mr. John and others in the House, who continue to refuse to work to support their own and many of the families of those who lost their children to those policies. The vast majority of Americans believe that the public is doing their share. This includes those who are looking for a better life which will lead them to work more, which will lead to better health care and better educational opportunities. This has an enormous impact on the lives of thousands of people, and especially those who are poor and who depend on government assistance.
There is also considerable evidence that some of these people do want to see health care coverage offered to Americans who aren’t poor or uninsured. And that’s not going to change. The best way to provide the right health insurance to those on Medicaid for a reasonable cost is to have some type of form of insurance that provides coverage to those who have health insurance. But Medicaid is not enough to cover all of the individuals who are poor. There is a huge gap between the two.
People can be eligible for coverage through a federal system like Medicare or through a Medicaid program. So the idea is to ensure a level playing field—in essence, the federal government providing benefits to all Americans for the sake of those who might have been previously uninsured. But many of the people affected by the Affordable Care Act don’t