History of Oceania

How did web b dubios react to Booker t Atlantic compromise?

Web Du Bois strongly criticized Booker T. Washington's Atlanta Compromise, considering it a betrayal of the civil rights struggle and a form of accommodationism that perpetuated racial segregation.

Here's a summary of Du Bois's objections:

1. Accommodationist Approach: Du Bois argued that Washington's focus on industrial education and economic advancement, while important, was not enough to address the root causes of racial inequality. He believed that Washington's approach was too conciliatory and did not confront the systemic discrimination and segregation faced by African Americans.

2. Limited Scope of Education: Du Bois criticized Washington's emphasis on manual labor and vocational training at the expense of a broader liberal arts education. He argued that African Americans needed a well-rounded education that included critical thinking, leadership skills, and the cultivation of intellectual pursuits.

3. Political Disenfranchisement: Du Bois was deeply concerned about the disenfranchisement of African Americans in the South, which was perpetuated by measures such as poll taxes, literacy tests, and grandfather clauses. He believed that Washington's accommodationist approach did not adequately address the need to fight for voting rights and political equality.

4. Segregation and Social Hierarchy: Du Bois rejected Washington's acceptance of segregation as a temporary necessity. He argued that separation only reinforced racial prejudice and perpetuated the idea of African Americans as inferior. Du Bois believed in the importance of integration, equal opportunities, and social justice for all.

5. Talented Tenth: In contrast to Washington's focus on vocational education for the masses, Du Bois proposed the concept of the "Talented Tenth." He argued that a small, educated African American elite should be cultivated to provide leadership, intellectual contributions, and advocacy for the entire race.

6. Niagara Movement and NAACP: Du Bois's criticism of the Atlanta Compromise led him to become a founding member of the Niagara Movement in 1905, which advocated for more radical civil rights strategies. The Niagara Movement eventually merged with other civil rights organizations to form the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) in 1909, where Du Bois served as a prominent leader and editor of its journal, The Crisis.