Up From Slavery by Booker

¶ … Up From Slavery" by Booker T. Washington and "The Souls of Black Folk" by W.E.B. DuBois in the book "Three Negro Classics." Specifically it will analyze the readings and explain the author's main arguments. These three classic works from black authors represent some of the finest writings on the perils and horrors of slavery and the black experience at the turn of the 20th century. They also represent some of the best writings on civil rights and equality, which would not come into being until the 1960s.

In "Up From Slavery," Booker T. Washington discusses his life and his work as one of the most influential black men of the 20th century. He wrote the book in 1901, and his main argument throughout the book is that anyone can make something of themselves if they only work hard at overcoming obstacles. Midway through the book he writes, "Nothing ever comes to one, that is worth having, except as a result of hard work" (Washington 130), and his life story bears this out. He worked extremely hard to create schools and trade schools for blacks, and he became known as a champion of education and educational reform. He holds these arguments throughout this book, and makes the reader understand how important it was to establish educational guidelines at a time when blacks were suffering in society.

Throughout the book, Washington talks about what he has learned and what makes a strong leader and person. He writes, "I have learned that success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed" (Washington 50). He always talks about obstacles and overcoming them, which is another important theme of his work. He himself overcame incredible obstacles to gain and education and then become an educator himself, and he expected other black people to do the same thing to better themselves. That is another reason he wrote this book, so he could inspire others to do the things he did. He was an inspiration to many, and his words throughout this book are still inspiring to read. He received many honors, making him more visible to whites and blacks alike, and that helped bring more people together in the common bond of educational reform.

Late in the book he writes, "During the next half-century and more, my race must continue passing through the severe American crucible. We are to be tested in our patience, our forbearance, our perseverance, our power to endure wrong, to withstand temptations, to economize, to acquire and use skill […]" (Washington 192). Again, he is attempting to inspire his readers and to inform them, as well. His purpose is quite clear. He wants the way blacks are treated to change, but he believes that black people themselves are the only ones that can make sure that happens. His argument is extremely persuasive and compelling, and his book is interesting, informative, and thought provoking.

Washington's words and purpose for writing this book show a very important time in history. Blacks in America were facing many problems, from racism and subjugation to poverty and lack of education and skills. Blacks were not allowed to vote in many Southern states, they could not attend most white colleges, and it was difficult for them to make a living. There was widespread racism and they did not enjoy equal rights. Blacks like Washington showed whites that African-Americans were not really any different from anyone else. They had the same dreams and hopes for the future, they wanted to learn and were not afraid of hard work, and they were tenacious when they fought for their rights and what they believed in. Washington's work showed that anyone can change the system, and that anyone can rise to greatness if they work hard, and he helped make historic changes for blacks at a time when they really needed them.

W.E.B. DuBois wrote "The Souls of Black Folk" in 1903, right around the same time Washington wrote his autobiography. However, many people believe DuBois wrote his work in direct opposition to Washington's "acceptance" of certain white impositions on blacks, like not being able to vote, or not working for a liberal arts education, but gaining a trade instead. DuBois' main arguments then are that blacks should not "settle" for anything, but fight for equal rights in all areas. In the "Forethought" to the book he writes, "Leaving, then, the white world, I have stepped within the Veil, raising it that you may view faintly its deeper recesses -- the meaning of its religion, the passion of its human sorrow, and the struggle of its greater souls" (DuBois 209). This shows he is writing for a black audience, and he is going to give them clues and questions about their identity, their culture, and their equality, and he wants them to use them to better themselves and stop settling for life within a white-oriented society.

Throughout the book, he talks about the strife between whites and blacks, and the attempt to gain equality and a deeper understanding of black culture. He writes, "The history of the American Negro is the history of this strife, -- this longing to attain self-conscious manhood, to merge his double self into a better and truer self. In this merging he wishes neither of the older selves to be lost" (DuBois 215). His arguments are meant to stimulate thought and discussion in the black community, while showing them, as Washington did, that just about anything is attainable through hard work and education.

Education is at the heart of DuBois' arguments about blacks and success. He writes, "The advocates of the higher education of the Negro would be the last to deny the incompleteness and glaring defects of the present system" (DuBois 277). DuBois is arguing for change in the entire social system of the country, while Washington really argues for blacks to "get along" with whites as best they can. DuBois is one of the first real black writers to incite blacks to fight for their rights and equality, and he sees education and educational reform as one of the keys to that independence.

The author's arguments are extremely compelling and persuasive, partly because he is so emphatic about his beliefs and his values. He shares them with the reader to make the reader sit up and take notice, and he writes in a scholarly and intelligent way, indicating his own education and intelligence. Perhaps the most compelling part of the book is when he relates stories of prejudice, unfairness, and prejudice, such as the white man closing down the black school, and the $5 ticket to enter the theater, when it really did not cost that much for whites. He eloquently shows what the blacks faced at this time, how unfair it was, and how ineffectual many blacks felt in an unfair society. It makes the reader want change, and that was the ultimate purpose of this book.