Journal for Dubois

The reading for today is The Souls of Black Folk by W.E.B. Dubois. As an activist Dubois is much more militant and full speed ahead than his contemporary Booker T. Washington. As I mentioned before this is, to me, the opposite of the expected case based on their different upbringings. I do not agree with Dubois' teachings as much as I do with Washington's. While learning intellectual things is helpful I find that when immediately slavery ended practical trades and skills were the most important things for the Negro. Also, I do not believe in his idea of the talented tenth. Choosing which persons should be capable of empowering the race is offensive in that it takes into account the upbringing and education of persons (something that Dubois had an advantage in). In my opinion it should be the responsibility of the entire race to empower the race and not the responsibility of some ten percent.