Booker T. Washington and Jane Addams on Equality

Introduction

Booker T. Washington and Jane Addams both appealed to the American value of equality by emphasizing the importance of education and opportunity for all. Washington argued that African Americans should be given the opportunity to learn trades and skills that would enable them to become self-sufficient and independent. He argued that this would lead to greater equality between the races, as African Americans would be able to compete on an equal footing with whites in the economic sphere. Addams, meanwhile, argued that the social question could be addressed by providing greater access to education and opportunity for all, regardless of race or class. She argued that this would lead to greater equality between the classes, as those from lower classes would be able to compete on an equal footing with those from higher classes.

Both Washington and Addams sought to redefine the American value of equality by emphasizing the importance of education and opportunity for all. They argued that true equality could only be achieved when all individuals had access to the same resources and opportunities, regardless of race or class. This was a radical redefinition of the American value of equality, as it shifted the focus away from simply providing equal rights and instead emphasized the importance of providing equal access to resources and opportunities.

Washington's View on Industrial Education and Racial Progress

Washington's Atlanta speech, also known as the "Atlanta Compromise," argued for racial cooperation and economic progress for African Americans. He argued that African Americans should focus on economic progress and education rather than on political rights. He also argued that African Americans should accept segregation and work within the existing social and political system to improve their economic and educational opportunities. In that address, Washington declared that Black Americans would not demand the right to vote. Washington believed that the best way for African Americans to gain equality was through economic progress — that is, through labor, hard work, and education — rather than through political action, which he understood the white Protestant establishment was not prepared to grant. He reasoned, however, that part of the reason for the white establishment's prejudice against free Black Americans was the belief that the "Negro" was good for nothing. He concluded that if African Americans focused on economic progress and proved their value and worth, they would eventually gain the respect of white Americans and, with it, the right to vote. He felt that demanding the vote prematurely would only lead to further conflict and violence, and he wanted African Americans to concentrate on improving their economic and educational opportunities as a path toward full citizenship.

As Washington stated in his "Industrial Education" address, he advocated for "industrial education and development for the Negro not because I want to cramp him, but because I want to free him."² What he meant was that Black Americans did not necessarily need a classical education of the sort advocated by other scholars such as W.E.B. Du Bois and Frederick Douglass. Washington was pragmatic: he proposed that African Americans focus on learning practical skills and trades in order to gain economic independence. He argued that education should center on teaching practical skills such as farming, carpentry, and mechanics rather than academic subjects such as Latin and Greek. He also maintained that African Americans should prioritize economic progress and self-reliance over political rights. Washington stated, "No race can prosper till it learns that there is as much dignity in tilling a field as in writing a poem."³

In short, classical studies were well suited for those who had the aptitude and foundation for them — but Washington understood that not all Black Americans had that capacity, background, or inclination. Not everyone could or would want to write and speak like Douglass or Du Bois. He therefore sought a better and more balanced path forward for his people, arguing that an industrial education would provide African Americans with the skills and knowledge necessary to become self-sufficient and successful in the modern economy. He also contended that industrial education would help African Americans earn respect and acceptance from the white community over time.

Jane Addams and the Social Question

In Twenty Years at Hull-House, Jane Addams discussed and proposed a variety of solutions to the "social question," which she viewed as a problem of relationships — the relation of the individual to the state, of the citizen to the government, of the poor to the rich, of labor to capital, of neighbor to neighbor, and so on. She argued that the social question could only be solved through a combination of individual and collective action, and she proposed a variety of solutions, including the establishment of public parks and playgrounds, the creation of public libraries, the provision of public health services, the regulation of working conditions, the improvement of housing conditions, the establishment of public schools, and the promotion of international peace. She also argued for the need to address the underlying causes of poverty and inequality, such as inadequate wages, lack of education, and discrimination.

Addams also rooted her vision in Christian ideals: "Other motives which I believe make toward the Settlement are the result of a certain renaissance going forward in Christianity. The impulse to share the lives of the poor, the desire to make social service, irrespective of propaganda, express the spirit of Christ, is as old as Christianity itself."⁴ Although this perspective could be seen as a way to propagate Christian values or further missionary work, it ultimately reflects an innate faith in spreading kindness irrespective of self-interest. It showed Addams's trust in human beings' innate goodness when united by a shared moral purpose.

Conclusion

Booker T. Washington advocated for racial equality through education and economic advancement. He believed that African Americans should focus on improving their economic and educational opportunities in order to gain respect and recognition in society, and that economic self-sufficiency would ultimately open the door to political power and full equality. Jane Addams was a social reformer and advocate for social justice who believed that all people should be treated with respect and dignity regardless of their race, gender, or class. She worked to improve the lives of the poor and disadvantaged by creating social programs and advocating for civil rights, and she insisted on the importance of universal access to education. Both Washington and Addams worked to redefine the concept of equality and adapt it to new circumstances by advocating for civil rights, education, and economic advancement for all people — leaving a legacy that helped lay the groundwork for the reform movements that followed.

Works Cited

Addams, Jane. Twenty Years at Hull House. https://cdn.fulltextarchive.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-advanced-pdf/1/Twenty-Years-At-Hull-House.pdf

Washington, Booker T. "Atlanta Compromise."

Washington, Booker T. "Industrial Education."