W.E.B Dubois Thoughts on Education Essay - 762 Words

W. E. B DuBoiss thoughts on education The Souls of Black Folk, written by W.E.B DuBois is a collection of autobiographical and historical essays containing many themes. DuBois introduced the notion of twoness, a divided awareness of ones identity. One ever feels his two-ness Ââ€" an American, a Negro; two souls, two thoughts, two unreconciled stirrings: two warring ideals in one dark body, whose dogged strength alone keep it from being torn asunder (215). There are many underlying themes in this collection of essays. One of the themes that DuBois speaks on extensively is education. DuBois stresses the importance of education amongst the black race. He believes that African Americans should be educated in order to guide and†¦show more content†¦The dominant white male of the story speaks the following statement, Now I like the colored people, and sympathize with all this reasonable aspirations; but you and I both know, John, that in this country the Negro must remain subordinate and can never expect to be e qual of white men (373). This is a fundamental sentiment that white people in the American society during that time held on to. In this essay W.E.B DuBois shows how this black man, John, was treated in his hometown after returning home with a college education. Both blacks and whites reject his new views. However, to whites the black John represents a devaluing of the college education. If a black person can have a college degree, then having a college degree must not have value. After this reaction from society John started to think, John Jones, youre a natural born fool (369). This behavior from society kept the average black person stagnant, and unmotivated. Continuing with the famous debate between Washington and DuBois, DuBois argues in The Training of Black Men that by training blacks for economic usefulness was not Smith 3 enough. Using blacks for manual labor without the benefit of education, culture, and ideas belittled them and suggests that they were less than human. Harmonization of race relations could only occur between two self-respecting, cultured, educated races, not between a dominant elite and a forcibly subordinated,Show MoreRelatedBooker T Washington And W. E. B. Dubois Persuasive Essay1326 Words   |  6 PagesPassive vs. Aggressive Fight for Rights There was no right to vote, no right to education, no freedom of speech or religion, no fair treatment by the law which means there was no equality. 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DuBois’s Thoughts on Education The Souls of Black Folk, written by W.E.B DuBois is a collection of autobiographical and historical essays containing many themes. DuBois introduced the notion of â€Å"twoness†, a divided awareness of one’s identity. â€Å"One ever feels his two-ness – an American, a Negro; two souls, two thoughts, two unreconciled stirrings: two warring ideals in one dark body, whose dogged strength alone keep it from being torn asunder† (215). There are many underlying themesRead MoreBooker T. Washington And. B. Dubois1050 Words   |  5 PagesBooker T. Washington and W.E.B DuBois During the late 19th and 20th century, Booker T. Washington and W.E.B DuBois were two of the greatest leaders of the black community. They both paved the way for the modern Civil Rights movement in America. However, the two accomplished scholars had differences when it came down to the methods for black social and economic progress. 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