Final answer:
W.E.B. Du Bois aimed to explain his disagreement with Booker T. Washington's strategy, advocating for immediate civil rights and higher education for African Americans, contrasting Washington's idea of economic self-reliance and acquiescence to segregation.
Step-by-step explanation:
W.E.B. Du Bois's main purpose in his critiques of Booker T. Washington's ideas was to explain why he disagreed with Washington's approach to racial equality. Du Bois believed that African Americans should not accept segregation and should fight for full civil liberties. In The Souls of Black Folk, Du Bois challenged Washington's notion that black Americans should focus on industrial education and acquiesce to disenfranchisement and social inequalities. Du Bois emphasized the need for a 'talented tenth' who could lead their community through high education and intellectual leadership, which contrasted with Washington’s perspective of achieving racial uplift through vocational training and economic self-reliance without directly challenging the system of segregation.
Washington's strategy, often referred to as 'accommodation,' suggested that African Americans should work hard and be patient, believing that economic success would eventually lead to respect and improved social status. However, Du Bois maintained that political action and higher education, which would cultivate a professional black leadership class, were fundamental for achieving equality and that it was imperative for African Americans to demand their civil rights actively.
In summary, W.E.B. Du Bois’s purpose was to confront and reject the premise that African Americans should quietly endure social and political inequality, asserting that rigorous intellectual development and unwavering demand for civil liberties were crucial for true empowerment and progress.