Question

Distinct philosophies on race relations were held by two important black intellectuals at the turn of the twentieth century, W. E. B. Du Bois and Booker T. Washington. What was W. E. B. Du Bois’s philosophy?

Answer 1

W. E. B. Du Bois held a philosophy that called for immediate social equality, the end to segregation, and the promotion of higher education for African Americans to develop leaders, known as 'the talented tenth'. Contrastingly to Washington's approach, Du Bois was a co-founder of the NAACP and opposed accommodationist strategies.

Step-by-step explanation:

W. E. B. Du Bois, a prominent African-American intellectual of the early 20th century, held a distinct philosophy on race relations that differed from his contemporary, Booker T. Washington. Du Bois, the first African American to receive a Ph.D. from Harvard University, advocated for immediate social equality and the right to vote for black Americans. He strongly opposed any forms of accommodation to segregation and white supremacy, including the Atlanta Compromise, which was supported by Booker T. Washington.

Du Bois emphasized the need for 'the talented tenth'—a term he coined to describe the top ten percent of educated African Americans who Du Bois believed should lead the fight for racial equality. He was opposed to limiting education for black Americans to vocational training only, as Washington suggested, believing instead in a liberal arts education that would develop leaders. Du Bois was also a co-founder of the NAACP and an active supporter of the Harlem Renaissance, promoting a more radical approach to ending racial discrimination and economic disenfranchisement.

In summation, Du Bois's philosophy centered on the belief that African Americans should have equal legal rights, academic and professional opportunities, and that they should actively resist and dismantle the systems of segregation and disenfranchisement in order to achieve full civil and social equality.