By 1920, Garvey claimed there were over 2 million members of UNIA. But numbers decreased when he was arrested for fraud in 1925.
Although I believe Garvey’s impact on ordinary black people was extremely significant, I think he went the wrong way about trying to solve the racist problems in the USA. Garvey wanted to run away from the problems instead of staying to face them and sort them out and make sure that black people were treated equally and got the civil rights they deserved.
Also, I believe that Garvey’s greatest contribution to black civil rights was his encouragement of them to have pride in themselves, their culture and heritage. Many of Garvey’s ideas lived on to influence civil rights in the 1960’s but based on his ideas I don’t believe he was the most influential.
William Edward Burghardt DuBois was born on February 23, 1863 in Great Barrington, Massachusetts to Mary Silvina and Alfred DuBois. DuBois and his mother (his father had left the family when he was young) were among the few African American residents in Great Barrington. Consequently there were little signs of overt racism here.
Therefore as DuBois grew up he never felt inferior because of his race, in fact, he was very well respected by the whites in his hometown. In 1884 he graduated as Valedictorian from high school and then attended “Fisk College” in Nashville, Tennessee.
During his 3 years at Fisk (185-1888) his knowledge of the race problem became more definite. He saw such a large amount of discrimination that he developed a determination to fight for civil rights. After graduation from Fisk, DuBois entered Harvard (via scholarship) (1885-1888). He made history as the first African American to graduate from his high school and later from Harvard with a Ph.D. He then went on to teach economics and history at Atlanta University.
He believed that everyone should be equal. He campaigned for immediate integration between black and white people. He wanted segregation ended, equality for all, equal voting rights and equality in all aspects of life.
On the 12th February 1909, DuBois co-founded the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People (NAACP). This is the largest and oldest civil rights organisation in America. The NAACP fought for equal rights for African Americans.
Although DuBois did a great deal for blacks and created a hugely popular NAACP he was a hard leader to support as he always changed his mind in what he thought was right, therefore I do not think he had the most influence over the African American peoples. Also, most of his support was from intelligent people, but at that time the majority of blacks were not that intelligent due to lack of education causing his support to be fewer.
Booker T. Washington was born in 1856 on the Burroughs tobacco plantation. His mother was cook, his father was a white man from a nearby farm. He went to school in Franklyn County – not as a student, but to carry books for one of the plantation owner’s daughter. It was illegal to educate slaves. He also did other menial jobs.
At the age of 16 he was educated by the wife of a mine owner who employed him as a houseboy. Because of her, in 1872, he became a student at Hampton Agricultural Institute. He went on to become a teacher, then principal and in 1881 he gained national recognition as the foremost black educator and he also gained much recognition when he founded the “Tuskegee Negro National Institute”, in order to increase the prospects of his own race.
Booker T. Washington believed that black Americans should be trained for trades before fighting for civil rights and equality. He argued that black people would advance only if they were educated. “Freedom through Education”.
Booker T. Washington and DuBois had very different views on how to achieve equality for blacks. They sharply disagreed on strategies for black social and economic progress. DuBois and Washington both wanted to elevate their African American race but DuBois thought Washington’s policy would never better the situation of black Americans and would only continue to cause white oppression.
Booker T. Washington preached a philosophy of self-help and accommodation. He urged blacks to accept discrimination for the time being and concentrate on elevating themselves through hard work and material prosperity. He believed in education, the crafts and industrial and farming skills. This he said would win the respect of whites and lead to acceptance and integration.
Although I believe DuBois had the right idea about how to improve the situation and gain civil rights, I believe that Washington was most influential. He had a huge amount of support, not only from black Americans but from white Americans also. They were pleased when Washington said blacks should accept their inferior position.
Washington had many friends in high places, for example, Queen Victoria, Presidents Cleveland, McKinley, Roosevelt and Taft. This caused him to have a large amount of influence over how things were decided and controlled. His career was a testimony for what slaves could achieve. He achieved economic improvement and opportunities. In 1890 he established the National Negro Business League, which supported black enterprises.
His own struggle for education, his speeches and fame inspired other blacks. In 1895 he spoke at the Atlanta World Fair. No black speaker had ever appeared before such an important southern gathering. There he stressed the idea that equality would come through hard work.
Washington was a role model, a presidential advisor and a lead spokesman for black Americans and was a huge national figure causing him to be the most influential player in the early civil rights movement.
