After the civil war ended in 1865 African Americans dealt with discrimination and suffering. The anew free slaves were now faced with a new society where people didn’t think much more of them than poverty. During this time period there were two leaders who had completely different philosophies about the black community. Booker T. Washington and W.E.B DuBois both had two different plans on the most successful way to improve the situation of African Americans. Even though both of their methods contrasted, both of these leaders had an idea for the upcoming of the black community. Washington and DuBois had opposing philosophies on racial justice; rather African Americans should fight to become equal with whites or believe that their race will never be on the same pedestal as whites.
Washington spent the beginning of his childhood in slavery. After the emancipation Washington thought that an education was the best decision to make. Education for blacks was limited because of segregation, so Washington decided to travel to Hampton. There Washington focused on working skills and because of his Hampton experience he became a teacher. A teacher who taught the foundation of the industrial education. In result, Washington was the founder of the University of Tuskegee. Washington felt that the greatest way for African Americans to alleviate themselves was to become a relevant factor in society. "The individual who can do something that the world wants done will, in the end, make his way regardless of his race" (112).
Washington grew up in the south, so that made him familiar with the treatment of African Americans and what their needs were. Washington had the idea that there was no need to keep fighting for the right to vote and civil rights in order to gain property and protection. If anything, African Americans should fight to reduce the amount of violence against their race. Indifferent from Washington’s philosophy, northern blacks disagreed while southern blacks...