Final answer:
Walter's statement about African Americans being "the world's most backward race" does not reflect his true beliefs but underscores the historical prejudices and systemic challenges faced by African Americans. Leaders like Du Bois and Garvey rejected such stereotypes, emphasizing strength, self-respect, and potential within the Black community.
Step-by-step explanation:
When Walter refers to African Americans as "the world's most backward race of people," it seems he is expressing a sentiment that aligns with a problematic stereotype stemming from historical prejudice and systemic disenfranchisement. However, given the context provided, Walter does not actually believe this; rather, it appears to be a critique of the systemic issues that have unjustly characterized African Americans this way. Figures like W. E. B. Du Bois and others sought to challenge such notions by advocating for the acknowledgment of the real socio-economic obstacles African Americans faced and the unjust prejudices that contributed to such a disparaging view.
The content quotes highlight the complexities and different perspectives within the African American community regarding their status and path forward. Du Bois and Garvey, among others, emphasized the importance of self-respect, self-help, and the rejection of submission to the dominant culture's devaluation of Black people. The critical perspective extends to challenge the distortion of facts and the role of stereotypes in perpetuating systemic racism. They argue for a recognition of the collective strength and potential of Black people to rise above the obstacles and prejudices placed in their way. Therefore, such a statement is not a genuine belief but a reflection of the deep-rooted societal issues that figures like Du Bois were seeking to address and overcome. It's a portrayal of the external view forced upon African Americans, not an expression of internal self-perception or an endorsement of that erroneous and harmful stereotype.