Washington vs. Du Bois

Washington was a realist and Du Bois in a sense, a romantic concerning what he expected at the time. Washington seemed to understand that Rome wasn't built overnight and had an ,"If you can't beat them, join them." kind of mentality. Du Bois looked at life dispairingly, and yet with passion that the future must come sooner. Washington seemed to understand "his enemy" and was more subtle. I am certain that Washington made more friends, and gained more support in his stance concerning white folk.

This all reminds me of the, " You can catch more flies with ." statement. I think that Du Bois possessed the kind of mentality that challenged everyone around him and the kind that says, "Shoot for the stars! If you don't reach it, catch one on the way down." I believe that he thought to not make lofty goals would surely lead to failure because the white folks were not going to involuntarily give up a portion of power. Therefore, it was up to the Negro nation to take what belonged to them at the present time, and not allow anyone to take from them what belonged to them accoring to the Emancipation Proclaimation.

Washington in his time was smart enough to know that Mary Poppin's medication worked best. If he had a theme song it would be," A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down!" Du Bois would be more like Beastie Boy's hit,"You've got to fight for your right, to Party."(not to make light of the subject) . Both Washington and Du Bois were valuable writers, and both were well written intelligent men. I think they were on very level playing fields. Washington may have understood his audience better, but Du Bois came to the table with an adament persuasion. This may have turned some off, but surely as many as were turned off, others were ignited with the same passion.