Final answer:
The experiences and ideas of Emma Goldman and W. E. B. Du Bois challenge America's democratic ideals, showcasing systemic inequalities and racial discrimination that contradict the nation's professed commitment to Right and Democracy.
Step-by-step explanation:
The experiences and ideas of Emma Goldman and W. E. B. Du Bois do indeed challenge the notion that America stood for Right and Democracy. Goldman, an anarchist and political activist, criticized the American political system for its inherent inequalities and the suppression of freedoms. W. E. B. Du Bois, a prominent African American intellectual and civil rights activist, exposed the hypocrisy of American democracy that claimed to fight for freedom abroad while denying civil rights and social equality to African Americans at home. Du Bois's disillusionment with America's war effort in 1917 and his challenge to the idea that defeating Germany would promote freedom for people of African descent globally questions America’s commitment to its democratic ideals.
Du Bois advocated for the freedom of African Americans, fighting against the systemic oppression they faced within the United States. He emphasized the importance of the ballot for self-defense against potential oppression and highlighted the contributions of African Americans to the very fabric of American culture. Du Bois, along with other black intellectuals, debated tactics ranging from conservative approaches like Booker T. Washington's to more radical strategies demanding immediate equality and an end to segregation.
Similarly, figures like Frederick Douglass and other civil rights activists of their time highlighted the contradictions between America's democratic promise and its racial and ethnic discrimination practices. Their advocacy for a more inclusive nation, recognizing the contributions of diverse peoples, underscored America’s struggle to truly embody the democratic ideals it professed.