Washington vs. Du Bois

The title of this blog is not actually apropos to what I am about to say.

Du Bois has great respect for Washington, and so do I. As far as philosophy and practical politics, I'm on Washington's side. Fundamentally, so is Du Bois. Du Bois' claim that "Washington's propaganda" was full of "half truths" is not true according to my reading of chapter 14 of "Up From Slavery."

Du Bois: "Notwithstanding this, it is equally true to assert that on the whole the distinct impression left by Mr. Washington's propaganda is, first, that the South is justified in its present attitude toward the Negro because of the Negro's degradation; secondly, that the prime cause of the Negro's failure to rise more quickly is his wrong education in the past; and, thirdly, that his future rise is depends primarily on his own efforts."

Washington does not think the Negros are degraded. In his Atlanta Exposition speech he tells the Southern whites, "You can be sure in the future, as in the past, that you and your families will be surrounded by the most patient, faithful, law-abiding, and unresentful people that the world has seen. As we have proved our loyalty to you in the past, in nursing your children, watching by the sick-bed of your mothers and fathers, and often following them with tear-dimmed eyes to their graves, so in the future, in our humble way, we shall stand by you with a devotion that no foreigner can approach, . . ." This description of the relationship between slaveholders and slaves is touching, and reveals Washington's oppinion of the rightiousness of his people.

Washington does not think the Negro can rise on his own efforts. He believes the "rise of the Negro" is the responsibility of both races. In his book he writes, "My own belief is, although I have never before said so in so many word, that the time will come when the Negro in the South will be accorded all the political rights which his ability, character, and material possessions entitle him to. I think though, that the opportunity to freely exercise such political rights will not come in any large degree through outside or artificial forcing, but will be accorded to the Negro by the Southern white people themselves, and that they will protect him in the exercise of those rights."

Washington also calls for equality, no question when he says, "I do not believe that any state should make a law that permits an ignorant and poverty-stricken white man to vote, and prevents a black man in the same condition from voting." Washington spoke more softly than Du Bois, but demanded as much equality. Of course, as he says, maybe he did not preach his fundimental belief enough, so his overall impression was the soft one that Du Bois cannot settle for.