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November 17, 2005
Of Training Black Men
Du Bois, ''The Souls of Black Folk'' (selections) (1903) -- American Literature, 1800-1915 (EL 266)
“But when we have vaguely said that Education will set this tangle straight, what have we uttered but a truism? Training for life teaches living; but what training for the profitable living together of black men and white?” Of the Training of Black Men
I think Of the Training of Black Men was better than the other selection we read because its features were more distinct. I noticed this selection was more targeted to the Negroes of the South, and less accommodating than the addresses of Booker T. Washington. Washington advocated education was one of the best ways to unite everyone of all races, but DuBois advocates something more. He insists that training isn’t just about tests and books, but about learning life lessons and skills. DuBois suggests there is something greater needed for the “profitable living together of black and white” and not just an education. I think this is true because not everyone will learn tolerance and live it after an education. I’m not sure was he is insinuating for training, but I know that he is poking at what Washington had to say.
Posted by AshleyHoltzer at November 17, 2005 08:29 AM
Comments
I didn't think of it that way, but that is a good point. Washington was taking a good step toward unifying people, but DuBois wanted to go a step farther.
Posted by: Stacy at November 17, 2005 09:09 AM
Yes, this is a good point Stacy. I think DuBois did want to make his landmard in history by taking it a step farther. But, like we said in class,without Washington there'd be no DuBois and without them there would be no Martin Luther King.
Posted by: Ashley Holtzer at November 29, 2005 01:15 PM