The author mentions the lifelong disagreement between W.E.B. Du Bois and Booker T. Washington (p. 21). Washington believed the best path to Black equality was through economic self-sufficiency, which he thought could best be attained by vocational training, while Du Bois felt education was the key. Were you aware of this conflict? Do you have an opinion on this? Do you think this has shifted over the decades?
I was not aware of the disagreement between W. E. B. DuBois and Booker T. Washington. I feel that education can bring self sufficiency. Therefore, they are connected.
I was not aware of the conflict between the two. I think both opinions can be true.
Perhaps things have shifted over the decades. In the book it was evident that educated Blacks were seen as an anomaly. I don’t think (and certainly hope not) that is true today. Possibly, to focus solely on education as a route to equality could take longer. It was made clear that these Black students as White colleges were not thought of or treated as equal and after having attained a degree were often unable to find work in their field, maybe that was more the case for the women.
Either way, there sadkt remains much inequality in our society today.
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I was unaware of the conflict. I think both paths are important. Most did not have the means to attend college and needed to be able to support themselves and their families. I think there is a revival for technical and trade schools today. More people seem to be speaking out to encourage young people to be work force ready so they can enter the workforce rather than to attend college.
I was not aware of the conflict but the way both men were portrayed in the book, my first thought was it was more an issue of two big egos that could not coexist in a room.
I wasn’t aware of the conflict. But both those men were leaders and if anything in their style or immediate agenda did not blend I am sure there would have been disagreement.