Question

In the article "A Child Of Slavery Who Taught A Generation," how does the author's inclusion of the feud between W.E.B Dubois and Booker T. Washington contribute to the central idea of the article? Cite evidence from the text in your answer.

Answer 1

The article's inclusion of the feud between Du Bois and Washington highlights contrasting strategies towards education and civil rights within the African American community, shaping the central idea by demonstrating the internal debate on how to achieve equality and progress.

Step-by-step explanation:

The feud between W.E.B. Du Bois and Booker T. Washington highlighted in the article "A Child Of Slavery Who Taught A Generation" serves to emphasize the contrasting approaches to civil rights and education among African American leaders after emancipation. Washington's strategy focused on industrial education, and his acceptance of segregation through the Atlanta Compromise was seen as a tactical move to gain immediate, tangible improvements for black communities. In contrast, Du Bois's resistance to any form of segregation and his advocacy for a liberal arts education underscored a more confrontational approach to achieving equality.

The inclusion of their differing viewpoints shapes the central idea of the article by showing the range of thought and the internal debate within the black community about the best way to fight for civil rights and improve lives. Through the debate, the author demonstrates how even well-intended tactics and philosophies can be subjects of controversy and suggests that the struggle for African American advancement was not only against external oppression but also involved navigating diverse and conflicting perspectives within the community itself.