W.E.B. DuBoiss Thoughts on Education Essay - 740 Words

W.E.B. 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 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†¦show more content†¦Washington believes that blacks, starting with so little, would have to begin at the bottom and work up gradually to achieve positions of power and responsibility. DuBois understands Washington’s program, but believes that this is not the solution. DuBois shows opposition to Washington’s approach, not his intent. In the fictional story, â€Å"Of the Coming of John†, DuBois rebukes Washington’s ideas of subordination to whites in order to obtain support for black education. The dominant white male of the story speaks the following statement, â€Å"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 equal 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 t hink, â€Å"John Jones, you’re a natural born fool† (369). This behavior from society kept the average black person stagnant, and unmotivated.Show MoreRelatedBooker T. Washington vs W.E.B. DuBois Essay1390 Words   |  6 Pagesessay you will read about numerous similarities as well as differences between these two gentlemen. Their names are Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. DuBois. But before I explain the differences between these two gentlemen, I will give you a more in depth background on each of them. This information that I will provide for you will give you a clearer thought on how they were raised and their beliefs. Booker T. Washington was born on the fifth of April in 1856, in Hale’s Ford, Virginia. 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