Jim Crow and Black

Response

Viewpoint 6A

Blacks Should Stop Agitating for Political Equality

(1895)

Historical Context

The historical context of this document is the growing fear of white southerners that African American will takeover. The greed of wanting to stay inferior, which made it harder for African American to gain economic opportunities. So, to improve the relationship of both races Washington had responded with a speech to gain the trust of white Southerners.

Intended Audience

Booker T. Washington’s intended audience was both the white Southerners leaders, and the African American leaders. He believes that by appealing to white Southerners it would bring their fears to an end. While, he wanted African Americans to believe that vocational education will help them advance. Also, encourage the racial cooperation of both groups and approvement of segregation.

Purpose

Booker T. Washington’s purpose in this document was to appeal to white Southerners and African Americans that vocational educations is more valuable more than anything in terms of advancing. To appeal to white Southerners, he made them feel secure by advocating accommodationism in order to show that they are inferior and will always be. He thought that by doing this, it would bring end to white southerners fears on social integration. On the other hand, he urged African Americans into accommodating segregation and disenfranchisement.

Point of View

Booker T. Washington was a anti lynching activist, who advocated accommodationism. - He argued that in order for African American to improve

they should just focus on self-improvement individually by earning it. And advocated vocational education for African American.

- Argues both races can benefit each other.

Outside Information

Atlanta Compromise (1895) - An agreement between Southern white leaders and

African American leaders to racial cooperation improvement of both races by accommodating segregation. It encourage conciliation of white southerners and focusing on industrial education.

Document Arguments Within this document, Washington is arguing that in order for African Americans to climb up

the social ladder they must first be content with where they are in society; that no race can prosper till it learns there is as much dignity in tilling a field as in writing a poem. He uses this phrase, “Cast down your bucket where you are” to emphasize his argument that if they continue to excel where they’re at, then their efforts will be recognized and rewarded. Additionally, he claims that they should not begin life at the top, but should work their way up and not allow their grievances to overshadow their opportunities. In response to the white race he tells them to “cast down your bucket” as well and recognize the blacks who had proven their loyalty to them by plowing their fields and building their cities. Overall, he argues that if African Americans continue to work hard then the whites will reward them for their work and that the progress in the enjoyment of all the privileges that will come must be the result of severe and constant struggle rather than artificial forcing.

Document Questions & Answers 1. What reasons does Washington give for optimism on race relation?

a. Washington gives hope on race relation by saying that no enterprise seeking material, civil, or moral welfare of African Americans can disregard them and reach the highest success as they ⅓ of the Southern population. Furthermore, he claims that since blacks have proven their loyalty by doing various tasks for the whites that they’ll soon be rewarded for their actions.

2. What elements of Washington's speech do you think account for his popularity with American political leaders such as President Grover Cleveland, who in a letter to Washington wrote that his 1895 speech “cannot fail to delight and encourage all who wish well for your race”?

a. The fact that within his speech Washington discouraged rebellion and encouraged patience gave him popularity among American political leaders because they wouldn’t have to worry about protests or any violent retaliations from African Americans. Additionally, his speech still encouraged the submission of African Americans because rather than telling them to fight for their rights, he tells them to make due with what they have till their rights are given to them.

Viewpoint 6B

Blacks Should Strive for Political

Equality (1903)W.E.B. Du Bois

HISTORICAL CONTEXT

Jim Crow Laws: segregated theaters, public schools, restaurants, waiting rooms in the bus and train stations, water fountains, restrooms, building entrances, elevators, hospitals, residential homes for the elderly etc. Du Bois didn’t agree with Washington’s acceptance of racial segregation as he argued that it only encouraged the white population to deny African Americans of the right to vote and to undermine black pride and progress. Du Bois stated that racial groups were created through historical and cultural facts and did not biologically define or hinder them.

INTENDED AUDIENCE

Du Bois wanted African Americans to realize that they must obtain political and social equality before hoping for an economic stance. This impacts his message as the shift from Washington’s ideas to his puts more attention to black suffrage and social equality. Du Bois argued that African Americans should strive for the rights the “world accords to men” which was stated in the Constitution.

PURPOSE

Du Bois published The Souls of Black Folk in 1903 to assail Washington’s strategy of accommodation. Must strive for…1. The right to vote2. Civic equality3. EducationWithout educated leaders, whatever gains the African Americans made could be stripped away by legal loopholes; that they should not be submissive to this system.

POINT OF VIEW

W.E.B. Du Bois (1868 - 1963)- First African American to earn a doctorate from Harvard University after

attending Fisk University- Got a teaching job at Atlanta University where he learned a lot about the

African American experience in the South- Advocated education and condemned Washington’s statement that

African Americans should only focus on vocational skills

OUTSIDE INFORMATION

- Niagara Movement (1905): Du Bois and 30 men met at Niagara Falls, Canada to draft a series of demands basically calling for an end to all forms of segregation.

- National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP): Sought to fight equality on a national front and to improve the self-image of African Americans. This also allowed for whites to help their cause directly.

Document ArgumentWithin this document the Du Bois is arguing against the beliefs of Booker T. Washington.

Within Washington’s programme at the time he advocated industrial education and conciliation of the South, yet at the same time he represented the old attitude of adjustment and submission of African Americans--practically accepting their inferiority. As a result, the disfranchisement & legal creation of a distinct status of civil inferiority of blacks came at a faster pace, as well as the steady withdrawal of aid from their institutions for higher training. He also argues also that it’s impossible for men to effectively progress in economic lines if they’re deprived of political rights, made a servile caste, and only allowed a meager chance of developing exceptional men. He doesn’t expect the free right to vote, to enjoy civic rights, and to be educated to come quickly nor does he expect to see the bias and prejudice of the past years to disappear like that. But the way for people to gain their reasonable rights isn’t by voluntarily throwing them away and insisting they don’t want them. Instead, they must continually insist that voting is necessary to modern manhood, that color discrimination is barbarism, and that black boys need education as well as white boys.

Doc argument continued: Washington’s triple paradox

1. He is striving nobly to make black artisans business men and property-owners; but it is utterly impossible for workingmen and property-owners to defend their rights and exist without the right of suffrage .

2. He insists on thrift and self-respect, but at the same time counsels a silent submission to civic inferiority.

3. He advocates common-school and industrial training, and depreciates institutions of higher learning; but neither the black common-schools, or Tuskegee itself, could remain open a day were it not for teachers trained in African American colleges, or trained by their graduates.

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Document Questions & Answers 1. What connection does Du Bois see between Booker T. Washington’s successes and potential

problems for American blacks?a. Du Bois connects Washington’s success to potential problems for American blacks

because Washington advocates the submission of a blacks to white supremacy and to patiently wait for their rights to be given to them. This ideology would give them little success in gaining their rights because the way to truth and right lies in straightforward honesty, not indiscriminate flattery. And even though the results may not come immediately, they must continually insist in order to be heard.

2. Could Du Bois be considered more or less realistic about civil rights than Washington? Why or why not?

a. Du Bois is more realistic in his approach to civil rights rather than Washington because if African Americans continue to submit to their “inferiority” then others will begin to believe that they’re content with their position in society. But if they continue to fight for their rights, they’ll be heard and may gain a following which will give them momentum in their movement.