Booker T Washington and Whitney Young
THEIR PASSION
WAS HELPING
OUR PEOPLE
But where’s the love? © 2016
The most celebrated black leaders relied on fiery oratory to establish themselves. They were great speakers who could inspire the masses, and they could inspire them to think and act. W.E.B.DuBois, Malcolm X and Stokely Carmichael, fit these descriptions, not to mention Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
W.E.B. DuBois was a contemporary of Booker T. Washington and a constant critic. The two men differed on the best ways to advance the cause of Blacks. Washington’s deeds, however, did far more for Blacks than DuBois’ words.
For example, though Washington did not openly agitate for voting rights, privately he supported its legal battles. Even more remarkable, at age 23, a time many of us are focusing on the opposite sex and having a good time, Washington founded Tuskegee Institute. Just think about that —23! Very few of his critics can point to something they’ve done at age 23 that compares to what Washington did. In addition to starting Tuskegee, Washington is responsible for raising money to support Hampton Institute. He did the same for Fisk and other black schools as well.
Long before Tom Joyner made support for Historically Black Colleges and Universities a beloved cause and long before United Negro College Fund events, there was Booker T. Washington. Arguably, no one has done more for black education than Washington.
Washington was a practical man. His message to Blacks during his day could apply to Blacks today. He said, “We must not allow our grievances to overshadow our opportunities.” Sure America has its problems, he might say, but the opportunities are numerous, and those opportunities dwarf the problems.
Washington was not a black nationalist by design, yet he inspired iconic nationlists such as Marcus Garvey and others. Garvey was actually inspired by the Tuskegee model, a black college that was making a difference. Washington had become Garvey’s idol whom Garvey wanted to meet, but Washington died before they could actually meet.
Today, nearly every urban city has a Booker T. Washington business association where black business people come together and network. The essence of Booker T.Washington was his unrelenting emphasis on economic development and education. His rival, W.E.B. DuBois, agitated and fixated on political power. Political power and economic power complement each other, and we need both. But economic power is liberating for an individual and a group.
Whitney Young was often criticized by militant Blacks during the 1960s for not adopting the fiery rhetoric of the times and for not being more “militant” enough. In his own words, however, Young would say, “You don’t get black power by chanting it.” These comments were aimed at Stokely and Malcolm X to an extent.
Neither Malcolm X nor Stokely could point to jobs they help bring to the black community, but Whitney Young could. He persuaded corporations to hire Blacks. He persuaded President Lyndon Johnson to enact a “Marshall Plan” for urban areas, which Johnson used in his War on Poverty. Young also persuaded President Richard Nixon to channel money and training into the black community. As a result of his efforts, thousands of jobs were created that helped the black community.
How many jobs did his detractors help to create? Young believed in education and saw it as a prerequisite for good jobs and a quality life. He would often say, “It’s better to be prepared for an opportunity and not have one than to have an opportunity and not be prepared.”
DuBois, Malcolm X, and Stokely Carmichael (Kwame Toure) were all important black leaders in their own right. But African Americans may want to take a more realistic look at history and take note of people whose contributions really made a lasting impact. It is very easy to get swept up in a person’s rhetoric, but at the end of the day, how has your life been positively impacted?
For any group, economic power is the key. Those with economic power have real power. Neither Washington nor Young dazzled Blacks with their fiery, militant in-your-face leadership style.
Though both Washington and Whitney Young are no longer with us, their contributions are still helping black people. Maybe that’s the standard we should use to judge our leaders.
THEIR PASSION
WAS HELPING
OUR PEOPLE
But where’s the love? © 2016
The most celebrated black leaders relied on fiery oratory to establish themselves. They were great speakers who could inspire the masses, and they could inspire them to think and act. W.E.B.DuBois, Malcolm X and Stokely Carmichael, fit these descriptions, not to mention Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
W.E.B. DuBois was a contemporary of Booker T. Washington and a constant critic. The two men differed on the best ways to advance the cause of Blacks. Washington’s deeds, however, did far more for Blacks than DuBois’ words.
For example, though Washington did not openly agitate for voting rights, privately he supported its legal battles. Even more remarkable, at age 23, a time many of us are focusing on the opposite sex and having a good time, Washington founded Tuskegee Institute. Just think about that —23! Very few of his critics can point to something they’ve done at age 23 that compares to what Washington did. In addition to starting Tuskegee, Washington is responsible for raising money to support Hampton Institute. He did the same for Fisk and other black schools as well.
Long before Tom Joyner made support for Historically Black Colleges and Universities a beloved cause and long before United Negro College Fund events, there was Booker T. Washington. Arguably, no one has done more for black education than Washington.
Washington was a practical man. His message to Blacks during his day could apply to Blacks today. He said, “We must not allow our grievances to overshadow our opportunities.” Sure America has its problems, he might say, but the opportunities are numerous, and those opportunities dwarf the problems.
Washington was not a black nationalist by design, yet he inspired iconic nationlists such as Marcus Garvey and others. Garvey was actually inspired by the Tuskegee model, a black college that was making a difference. Washington had become Garvey’s idol whom Garvey wanted to meet, but Washington died before they could actually meet.
Today, nearly every urban city has a Booker T. Washington business association where black business people come together and network. The essence of Booker T.Washington was his unrelenting emphasis on economic development and education. His rival, W.E.B. DuBois, agitated and fixated on political power. Political power and economic power complement each other, and we need both. But economic power is liberating for an individual and a group.
Whitney Young was often criticized by militant Blacks during the 1960s for not adopting the fiery rhetoric of the times and for not being more “militant” enough. In his own words, however, Young would say, “You don’t get black power by chanting it.” These comments were aimed at Stokely and Malcolm X to an extent.
Neither Malcolm X nor Stokely could point to jobs they help bring to the black community, but Whitney Young could. He persuaded corporations to hire Blacks. He persuaded President Lyndon Johnson to enact a “Marshall Plan” for urban areas, which Johnson used in his War on Poverty. Young also persuaded President Richard Nixon to channel money and training into the black community. As a result of his efforts, thousands of jobs were created that helped the black community.
How many jobs did his detractors help to create? Young believed in education and saw it as a prerequisite for good jobs and a quality life. He would often say, “It’s better to be prepared for an opportunity and not have one than to have an opportunity and not be prepared.”
DuBois, Malcolm X, and Stokely Carmichael (Kwame Toure) were all important black leaders in their own right. But African Americans may want to take a more realistic look at history and take note of people whose contributions really made a lasting impact. It is very easy to get swept up in a person’s rhetoric, but at the end of the day, how has your life been positively impacted?
For any group, economic power is the key. Those with economic power have real power. Neither Washington nor Young dazzled Blacks with their fiery, militant in-your-face leadership style.
Though both Washington and Whitney Young are no longer with us, their contributions are still helping black people. Maybe that’s the standard we should use to judge our leaders.