Between Labor and Leadership: A Visual Exploration of Black Educational Philosophy

 Between Labor and Leadership: A Visual Exploration of Black Educational Philosophy

For my final project, I chose to do a visual representation, focusing on the binary opposition between industrial education and intellectual education. This position is discussed between Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois. The primary text I am using is Du Bois’ Of the Training of Black Men, in which he challenges the philosophy of prioritizing industrial education over intellectual development. He discusses an option for Washington to be more open-minded, supporting intellectual growth and education.

In my project, I represented both sides, starting with Washington’s emphasis on vocational training and physical labor. This is supported by his belief that Black Americans should prioritize industrial skills to be contributing factors to the economy in order to progress. Washington believed that contributing to the economy would lead to independence and change the political and social hierarchy for black people.

The other portion of my project sheds light on the perspective of Du Bois, who argues for higher education and intellectual cultivation. In Of the Training of Black Men, Du Bois challenges Washington's ideas that intellectual black educationis for industrial. He takes the stance that, withoutleadership, political strength, and higher learning, black people can never be equal. He introduces the concept of the “Talented Tenth,” bring fourth that we need black educated leaders to pave the way towards growth and citizenship. I used imagery that reflects what this would look like in ttoday'smodern time. This visual also shows the growth of seeds left behind at institutions like our own.

This binary opposition reveals a deeper conflict about how freedom and progress should be pursued. Both Washington and Du Bois wanted better for black aAmericans but in their philosophies, they were different. Washington focused on economic survival under oppression, while Du Bois demanded intellectual growth. My visual highlights how these differences between leaders brought about black thoughts and growth today. 

https://youtu.be/D3NwD4J0mJA

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