| W.E.B. Dubois Essay, Research Paper
Comparison of Tones
Through reading the pieces of writings by Booker T. Washington and W. E. B.
DuBois in the Three Negro Classic I have learned they have different attitudes/tones
towards society. Booker T?s tone was one of being positive towards life, and he was very
forgiving. On the other hand W. E. B. DuBois?s tone was totally different. His tone was
not forgiving, and he thought very negatively. The tones of Booker T. and DuBois are
completely opposites, one is of forgiveness and looking for the better in life, and the
other is of blaming and pointing fingers.
Booker?s tone was very forgiving, and he also had a positive attitude towards life.
Washington believed that hard work could help a person achieve anything they desired in
life no matter what race you are. A great example of this was the success of the black
painter, Mr. Tanner, overseas. Tanner was well appreciated by everyone despite of his
race. This acceptance was what Washington was aiming for in the South and the entire
United States. Even though Booker was apart of slavery he never hated or blamed the
whites for it. Booker believed that if the whites and blacks could work together, society
as a whole would be vastly better. Washington never gave fault to the whites for the
blacks lower status in life, but instead he asked for their help to better the status of the
Negro race. All this was expressed in his address to the people in the Atlanta Exposition.
He also thought education would be the key to blacks becoming better citizens. Booker
T.?s number one goal was to create social equality for everybody.
W. E. B. DuBois had a different tone than Booker T. Washington. DuBois was
not forgiving at all, and he thought very negatively about what Washington had to say.
He feels that the whites should take the responsibility of helping the black community
advance in life, since the whites were the reason for the Negro race being poor and
lacking of political, social equality. DuBois thought negatively of Booker. He
interpreted Washington?s teachings as a way of putting the Negro race down even further
instead of lifting it up. DuBois felt as if Booker T. was giving into the whites instead of
standing up to them. At the Atlanta Exposition, DuBois felt that Booker was telling the
people to give up their political rights, and not to continue their pursuits in higher
education. If this were the case, Washington wouldn?t have founded the Tuskegee
University for blacks to better themselves.
Booker T. Washington and W. E. B. DuBois had totally different views on the
same subject. This is shown in the tone of their writings. Washington?s tones are more
uplifting and motivating to a person who would have read his work during this time.
DuBois?s tone is on a more negative note, which can discourage a person who decides to
read his writings.
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