HW 2/25

What exactly were Washington’s accommodationist thoughts and why did Du Bois distance himself from them?
How was the world he longed for and all it’s dazzling opportunities not his? He achieved a high level of education, success, and importance in his time. He traveled the world and all it’s cultures. This anecdote seems to only shine without the greater context.
demagogism – a pandering to the multitude for selfish ends.
Rousseauism – the return to or glorification of a simpler and more primitive way of life.
This essay seems like such a broad stroke painting a picture of the issues of the time that it’s hard to formulate precise opinions or responses. Du Bois doesn’t appear to be addressing very specific issues and offering solutions to them but discussing a broader sense of oppression of blacks being able to contribute in American society. Clearly at this time there were these racist systems in place in vast areas in America so the claim and argument is not unfounded. However, it it feels unspecific and hard to address when presented in such a way. Also, to top this off, I’m unsure Du Bois personally is attributing the correct causes to these issues given his economic and political views in his life. I think he overall has a strong emotional appeal as well as a high degree of credibility given his education, but his reasoning and logic was shallow.

Jake’s Expanse