Two Approaches: Washington and Du Bois: Washington’s stress on economics; Du Bois’ stress on civil rights (jan 1, 1895 – jan 1, 1915)

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Two figureheads of the African American community, Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois, disagreed over which issue should take priority: expanded civil rights or economic upheaval for African Americans. Washington stressed that economics should take priority, as he believed that African Americans would only have a chance at achieving political and social equality if they first established a firm economic base through education and industrialization. On the other hand, Du Bois stressed that civil rights and social equality were essential for African Americans to make economic strides, not the other way around, and he published his beliefs and criticisms of Washington’s arguments in his book The Souls of Black Folk. This debate would be carried on by future African American leaders well into the 20th century (i.e., Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr.).

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