Opposing Philosophies

There where two other men who's philosophies differed from that of Marcus Garvey. These philosophies gave new insight on how the African American race should find there way out of oppression. These philosophies came from Booker Taliaferro Washington and William Edward Burghardt DuBois.

Booker T. Washington

Booker T. Washington's feeling was that black Americans had to rise up out of oppression by self-improvement. He believed that Black people could not survive without the help of the white American. This belief included that the best thing for the black American to do was to learn and develop a skill (example: Carpentry). These skills would transpire into a more prominent future, thus a rise in the economic ladder or social status. Washington believed that African Americans should seek a primary education, which would both supplement work and life preparation, such as: hygiene and good manners. Washington belief summed up in a single sentence is that through hard work, thrift, and self-help, blacks would improve their social status and would ultimately win the acceptance of whites.

W.E.B. DuBois

W.E.B. Dubois and Marcus Garvey were basically what one could call political foes. Dubois and Garvey had a stern dislike for each other. Some say it is do to the difference in their educations. Dubois was a highly educated black American from the North and believed that the Black race's success evolved around education. Not just a strong primary education, but one or multiple college degrees. He personally felt that African Americans only receiving a primary education and entering the work force to obtain a skill were surrendering to the White dominated society. Dubois believed that education was the only absolute key to raise the status of Black Americans.