Washington and Du Bois

Within The Atlanta Exposition Address, Booker T. Washington takes a somewhat passive approach to racism and the different expectations between the races. In his speech he relates the races with two different ships, one asking for help and the other offering yet without being herd, when he goes on you never really know which race is which ship because the point is that each need each other to prosper. Without being harsh and negative about the events of past times, he is able to project a better future that can be accomplished; just with some patience and time. He knows that this problem will not fix itself over night and the world will not learn to live as one, but more of an inch by inch sort of way. During his speech he also says "Much dignity in tilling a field as in writing a poem.." which is his way of showing the greatness in every ones life, no matter what they may be doing, hoping to show that even though they were slaves what their lives entailed was just as important and needed as what the whites were doing. Further within his piece he talks about how he didn't feel that his speech accomplished much until the next day when people were gathering to shake his hand, showing that just a speech can alter people opinions and that it will take time to reach everyone.

Whereas W.E.B Du Bois writing of: Of Mr. Booker T. Washington and Others he is more straight forward and demanding of what blacks deserve, and almost gives the reader the feeling that he doesn't approve of Washington. That he has become to passive and isn't as great as the general opinion is, but more negative because of how he goes about looking for change. Whether it's envy or straight disagreement Du Bouis gives the impression that Washington is almost more white than black with his thinking. Du Bois comes right out and says " Negroes must insist continually, in season and out of season, that voting is necessary to modern manhood, that color discrimination is barbarism, and that black boys need education as well as white boys." He comes off as threatening and judgemental, and probably isn't seen to well by others that aren't strongly agreeing with him.

Reading these two pieces as though the two men were having a conversation, I'm sure it would be heated and more about each others approaches then the actual content. Their ideas are justified because they both reach for equality but Washington is more telling it gently where Du Bois is pushing it down the throat.