How were African Americans to achieve freedom and equality, prosperity, and full citizenship after emancipation from slavery?

The Racist Response

The Main Question is the problem. In fact, ex-slaves will never achieve freedom and equality, prosperity, and full citizenship for several reasons.

God and nature have determined that people are not born free nor equal. Whites are superior to blacks--who are like children: impulsive, irrational, and destructive. Whites must govern blacks or chaos will reign.

The alternatives to black subordination are unacceptable. Left to their own devices, blacks will be lazy, unproductive, impoverished, and, therefore, apt to engage in criminal and violent behavior. Only white guidance can assure their work, productivity, subsistence, and civilized behavior.

Here is one unacceptable alternative future.

The South ought to be free to determine its own destiny. Free from Northern influence, the South will establish a peaceful and productive as well as traditional, hierarchial society where people assume mutual responsibility for each other's welfare.

If you are wise, value the white race, strive for order and decency, and treasure a traditional, stable society, you should quit here. Still, you need to know the enemy. So make your choice.

`Make Your Choice`

Booker T. Washington Individual Approach

W.E.B. DuBois

Collective Approach

HOME

How were African Americans to achieve freedom and equality, prosperity, and full citizenship after emancipation from slavery?

The Racist Response

The Main Question is the problem. In fact, ex-slaves will never achieve freedom and equality, prosperity, and full citizenship for several reasons.

God and nature have determined that people are not born free nor equal. Whites are superior to blacks--who are like children: impulsive, irrational, and destructive. Whites must govern blacks or chaos will reign.

The alternatives to black subordination are unacceptable. Left to their own devices, blacks will be lazy, unproductive, impoverished, and, therefore, apt to engage in criminal and violent behavior. Only white guidance can assure their work, productivity, subsistence, and civilized behavior.

Here is one unacceptable alternative future.

The South ought to be free to determine its own destiny. Free from Northern influence, the South will establish a peaceful and productive as well as traditional, hierarchial society where people assume mutual responsibility for each other's welfare.

If you are wise, value the white race, strive for order and decency, and treasure a traditional, stable society, you should quit here. Still, you need to know the enemy. So make your choice.

Make Your Choice

Booker T. Washington Individual Approach W.E.B. DuBois Collective Approach

`Make Your Choice`

Booker T. Washington Individual Approach

W.E.B. DuBois

Collective Approach