The Souls of Black Folk by Du Bois

Work and money should never overshadow the higher goals of life which include the rights and freedom of an individual. This was W.E.B Du Bois motivation to critic Washington’s program which accepted the alleged inferiority of the black man and withdrew black man’s high demands as American citizens (Morris, 2007). Washington political power and charismatic influence which came at the expense of black masses was the source of Du Bios criticism. Even though Washington was sincere in his personal empowerment of colored people to achieve economic independence, this tactic gave him undue influence in the politics of America. The program was the placation with the whites was the basis for his political platform foundation (Clark & John, 2003).

Du Bois believed Washington’s concessions were an inhibitor to the exercising the newly gained rights and expressions of the black man. The neglect by Washington about the intellectual development and encouragement of vocational training of blacks recreated his position as the leader of the black race and therefore he advocated for political rights rather than empowerment economically of the black people which was unacceptable to many leaders of those days. Washington was seen as if he voluntarily cooperated to squander the most gifted black race member’s natural intellectual prowess (Clark & John, 2003).

Du Bois believed that education was the primary key in achieving anything great in a person’s life. He argued that if money was the main focus of training, then in reality money-makers were made not men. Intelligence, knowledge of the worlds present and past and broad sympathy were necessary tools in building a foundation of bread winning, quickness of mind and skill of hand of the black race (Morris, 2007).

Therefore every human being is entitled to his rights and education helps the individual to utilize his talents and gifts within these rights. Talented individuals need action and knowledge to spearhead the remedies for black American issues.

References

Clark, B., & John, B. F. (2003). Land, the color line, and the quest of the Golden Fleece: An introduction to W.E.B. Du Bois’s the souls of black folk and the quest of the silver fleece (selections). Organization & Environment, 16(4), 459-469. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/219871191?accountid=45049; http://www.emeraldinsight.com?genre=article&sid=ProQ:&atitle=Land%2C+the+color+line%2C+and+the+quest+of+the+golden+fleece%3A+An+introduction+to+W.E.B.+Du+Bois%27s+The+Souls+of+Black+Folk+and+the+Quest+of+the+Silver+Fleece+%28selections%29&title=Organization+%26+Environment&issn=10860266&date=2003-12-01&volume=16&issue=4&spage=459&author=Clark%2C+Brett%3BJohn+Bellamy+Foster

Morris, A. (2007). The Souls of W. E. B. Du Bois. Contemporary Sociology, 36(2), 181-182. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/233581359?accountid=45049; http://search.epnet.com?ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&ctx_enc=info:ofi/enc:UTF-8&rfr_id=info:sid/ProQ%3Aabiglobal&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:journal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Contemporary+Sociology&rft.atitle=The+Souls+of+W.+E.+B.+Du+Bois&rft.au=Morris%2C+Aldon&rft.aulast=Morris&rft.aufirst=Aldon&rft.date=2007-03-01&rft.volume=36&rft.issue=2&rft.spage=181&rft.isbn=&rft.btitle=&rft.title=Contemporary+Sociology&rft.issn=00943061;