Critically analyze W. E. B. Du Bois' criticism of Booker T. Washington's social and educational proposals for African-Americans. Note that this question does not ask you to compare and contrast the educational visions of each of these men, but rather to examine Washington's proposals through the lens of Du Bois' perspective.

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The Answer is W. E. B. Du Bois was a prominent African-American scholar and activist who was critical of Booker T. Washington's social and educational proposals for African-Americans. Du Bois believed that Washington's approach, which emphasized vocational education and accommodation to white supremacy, was ultimately harmful to the progress and advancement of African-Americans.

Du Bois criticized Washington's focus on vocational education as limiting and perpetuating the idea of African-Americans as a labor force rather than as intellectual and cultural contributors to society. He argued that Washington's emphasis on industrial education served to reinforce the segregation and discrimination that existed in American society at the time, rather than challenging and dismantling it.

Furthermore, Du Bois was critical of Washington's strategy of accommodation to white supremacy, which he believed only served to perpetuate the status quo of racial inequality. Du Bois argued that Washington's philosophy of "cast down your bucket where you are" essentially encouraged African-Americans to accept their second-class status and not strive for full equality and civil rights.

In contrast to Washington's approach, Du Bois advocated for a more radical and assertive stance in demanding equal rights and opportunities for African-Americans. He believed in the importance of higher education and intellectual development for African-Americans, and he was a vocal proponent of civil rights activism and political agitation as a means of challenging racial inequality.

In summary, Du Bois' criticism of Washington's social and educational proposals for African-Americans centered on the belief that Washington's approach was too passive, accommodating, and ultimately detrimental to the long-term advancement and empowerment of African-Americans. He argued for a more assertive and proactive approach in the fight for civil rights and equality.

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