W. E. B. Du Bois and Booker T. Washington

Celebrating Black History Month: W. E. B. Du Bois

Reading Comprehension: W. E. B. Du Bois and Booker T. Washington (Advanced)

In 1903, Du Bois published The Souls of Black Folk. The Souls of Black Folk is Du Bois's best-known book. It has also been one of the most influential books of the twentieth century. In The Souls of Black Folk, Du Bois criticized Booker T. Washington.

Washington was a well-known black educator. He urged industrial education for African-Americans. He also founded the Tuskegee Institute. (The Tuskegee Institute provided industrial training to African-Americans.) Washington believed that African-Americans would gain respect from the white community if they had trade skills. He also believed that trade skills were key to economic security.

But Du Bois believed that academic education was more important that trade education. He thought Washington's emphasis on industrial education actually kept African-Americans trapped in lower social and economic classes by suggesting they were best suited to service occupations. Du Bois wanted African-Americans encouraged to succeed in the arts and sciences.

Du Bois and Washington seemed to take opposite sides in the educational debate. In real life, though, their educational practices were somewhat closer. Courses at Washington's Tuskegee Institute included basic academics like mathematics and literacy skills. Meantime, Du Bois was a firm believer in excellence. He encouraged African-Americans to work hard, regardless of their careers.

The greater difference between the two was their political views. Both Du Bois and Washington wanted African-Americans to have the same rights as white Americans. But Du Bois encouraged African-Americans to demand equal rights. Washington, on the other hand, often ignored discrimination. He believed that it was important for blacks to develop good relationships with whites. He was afraid that blacks who demanded equal rights would create ill will between themselves and white Americans.

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criticize debate demand discrimination encourage	ignore industrial influential security trade

Comprehension Questions

What is Du Bois's most popular book?
When was it published?
Who does Du Bois criticize in this work?
What kind of education did Booker T. Washington recommend?
What kind of education did W. E. B. Du Bois recommend?
Was Du Bois opposed to African-Americans excelling at skilled trades? Defend your answer.
Why did Du Bois not encourage trade education?
How did Du Bois and Washington differ in their approaches to civil rights?

For Discussion . . .

What are the advantages of industrial or technical education? What are its disadvantages?
What are the advantages of academic education? What are its disadvantages?
What are the advantages of fine arts education? What are its disadvantages?
Would you be more likely to support Du Bois's educational model or Washington's? Why?
While Du Bois supported education that emphasized the arts and sciences, he argued that education was NOT for all people. Instead of educating all people, Du Bois said only the most talented people should receive an extensive education. These people, once educated, should invest their lives in improving society. Do you agree or disagree with Du Bois's argument that all people are not equally deserving of education? Why might Du Bois's position be logical? What potential problems do you see with Du Bois's argument?
In what ways were Washington and Du Bois's approaches to education similar? In what ways did they differ?
Do you think it is possible to reconcile Washington and Du Bois's approaches? If not, why not? If so, how?

For Further Study . . .
Read It!
Read online The Souls of Black Folks.

Investigate It!
Investigate Du Bois's "Talented Tenth" theory.

In which of his works does Du Bois relate his "talented tenth" theory?
What kinds of skills does Du Bois want to see people develop?
In what ways does he think society should support those who comprise the "Talented Tenth"?
What duty does Du Bois believe the "Talented Tenth" has to the rest of society?
How did Du Bois himself contribute to the development of a "Talented Tenth"?
Does Du Bois advocate the "Talented Tenth" theory his whole life, or does he ever seem to abandon this theory? Defend your answer.

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