All my life I have fought for the educational and economic uplift of my people, nearly all who were emancipated slaves or members of that first generation. The wisest of my people understand that social equality is extreme, and that making progress in being able to enjoying the privileges that will eventually come to them have to result from significant struggles rather than artificial forcing. I find that if one lacks individual worth, they are not valuable to what appears to be the superior race. As I have recently learned, one of the candidates for the upcoming presidential election, Barack Obama, is African American. As an educator, author, and advisor to past presidents, I urge Obama and the American public to reconsider this decision for an African American to take on such a prestige position in politics due to our lack of respect of white Americans, integration, economic infrastructure, and education in the crafts.
The issue with an African American presidential candidate is that it goes against the method of “accepting segregation” and working towards equality in other ways such as learning agriculture and technology skills, building up economic value and keeping economic stability, and by not striving for high valued job positions such as politicians and doctors. By sticking to this method of accomodation, the black race will eventually build up and train for economic self-determination in the industrial arts, which will in turn lead to the ultimate respect from the white society. The process of acquiring homes, businesses, and the accumulation of wealth is the best and only way to establish racial equality. I advise the colored community to refrain from bitterness towards whites, and to stay separate from them while we create a foundation that even they cannot turn away from. The election of an African American president is not a reality for our society at this time and place due to the lack of respect whites still have for us today.
This lack of respect can be seen in many areas of society today and unfortunately, it goes beyond black society and includes other non-white races that reside and are citizens of the United States. The criminal legal system is substantially corrupt in that black Americans are innocent victims of unnecessary police stops and searches, are more likely than whites to receive prison terms rather than community service, usually have longer incarceration sentences, and are more likely to be incarcerated while awaiting trial ("18 Examples Of Racism In The Criminal Legal System"). Discrimination in the workplace consists of unfair and racially biased hiring practices, false stereotypes, wage discrimination, and marginalization of minority groups who are often at a disadvantage in society. The election of a black president would ultimately force the white society to rebel, which would only amplify the previously listed areas of discrimination. Instead, I propose that we take an alternative approach in which our race adds such significant value to this country, that the intellectual and moral well-beings who are involved are long left without proper reward. After we have achieved this is when we gain political power in the White House.
My childhood and upbringing as well as my background in education and politics serve as proof to black society that this alternative approach is successful in many ways. I was born into slavery but eventually got an education from Hampton and became a teacher. I founded the Tuskegee University which flourished and focused on the training of agricultural pursuits of African Americans. I have established the National Negro Business League and a national political network of schools and newspapers. My intentional engagement in uncertainty in order to encourage white recognition of my leadership had paid off. My accomplishments and philosophies had gained support from white society as well as blacks. I was appointed to an advisor for both Theodore Roosevelt and William Howard Taft due to my growing fame. This goes to show how taking a backseat in political leadership positions to focus on growing a substantial foundation will eventually lead to natural and earned political leadership positions that derive from respect and hard work.
In contrast, there are many who oppose my plan of attack, such as W.E.B. Du Bois. Du Bois refutes my strategy and states that it would only serve to perpetuate white oppression. He argues that I had sped up the progress by which blacks have regressed, that the lack of political rights and educational opportunities for blacks was detrimental to their potential progress, and believes that African Americans should rebel against my contentions.
"So far as Mr. Washington apologizes for injustice, North or South, does not rightly value the privilege and duty of voting, belittles the… effects of caste distinctions, and opposes the higher training and ambitions of our brighter minds so far as he, the South, or the Nation does this we must unceasingly and firmly oppose them. By every civilized and peaceful method we must strive for the rights which the world accords to men" (Du Bois, 706).
Zora Neale Hurston also would agree with Du Bois with her thoughts that suppressing oneself is not an act that will demand equality, as well as that it is up to our generation to effect social change and alter the status quo across America. She believed that in order to advance colored communities, it was necessary to destroy the idea of whites keeping in control and acting as a superior race. Hurston expresses the idea that white Americans do not know what is it like to be discriminated against, or to be in a situation where some refuse to see past the color of one’s skin. Hurston and Du Bois’ embracement of black culture is in direct alignment with my viewpoints; however, the strategy to achieve racial equality is what differs.
I respect Du Bois and Hurston’s viewpoints that suppressing oneself is not an act to demand equality; however, I suggest that we do not demand anything. My vision for black Americans will eventually lead to equal political and civil rights, but in the meantime we should put the demands for voting and ending segregation on the backburner in order to focus on the issues that will result in the white society demanding our people to take on these political and other high-up positions. Through this, we can gain the support of whites and will be able to build a bridge between the two races. Our goal is to be invited and included in the economic progress of this country, and to prove our value in the American economy. We do not accomplish this through demanding orders, but through concentrating on self-education, acquiring useful trades, and investing in our own businesses and companies.
Langston Hughes’ poem, “I, Too” represents the value he holds in taking a step back from the table and allowing himself to work on his personal value by “eating well” and “growing strong” so that he eventually can gain enough respect to sit at the dinner table.
“I, too, sing America. / I am the darker brother. / They send me to eat in the kitchen / When company comes, / But I laugh / And eat well, / And grow strong. / Tomorrow, / I’ll be at the table / When company comes. / Nobody’ll dare / Say to me, / “Eat in the kitchen,” / Then. / Besides, / They’ll see how beautiful I am / And be ashamed — / I, too, am America” (Hughes, Ln. 1-17).
Hughes depicts the reasoning behind why it is so important to work on our independent selves and our race before we are to earn our spot at the dinner table, or in today’s case, to earn our spot as an African American presidential candidate. Hughes explains that he, too, is America, which supports the idea that you must learn how to walk before learning how to run, and eventually African Americans will be fully recognized as part of American society.
I would have to agree w
ith Frederick Douglass’ argument for “liberty — and liberty alone — for freed blacks” (“Frederick Douglass, Booker T. Washington And Liberty”). There is a compelling similarity between the times of today and after the Civil War in that after it had ended, many blacks wanted freed slaves to see special accommodations. This can be related to today’s arguments that would give racial preference to hiring and electing black citizens because of recent history of discrimination. I argue in defense of Douglass in that black Americans should work towards equal opportunity instead of special privileges. My race will succeed as it learns how to perform common work in an uncommon matter until it is not possible for it to be done any better, which will make their services more valuable than one could ever think.
Barack Obama should focus on not only himself as a black leader, but his people, so that he is able to encourage them to perform in ways that make them undeniably wanted by white society. He should encourage his supporters to take a step back and assess their situation in today’s society and taking into consideration the treatment they are receiving by the rest of white society. Black Americans are still today not completely integrated in America’s society due to the ongoing discrimination we face each and every day. Once we prove our value to non-whites, we will be able to push further and not just hold high-position jobs, but we will be able to then obtain the respect black Americans need to be able to make a meaningful and lasting effect on our country’s economy.
My personal experience in exemplifying the strategy of hard work, economic progress, and merit, has proved to be successful in proving my value to Americans and to the economy. The choice of electing an African American president is one that certainly take place, but should be pushed off until further progress regarding the respect and equal treatment of all races. I urge Obama and the American public to reconsider their decision to go forward with the first African American president on such unstable grounds, and instead encourage the reevaluation and betterment of establishing an unavoidable economic infrastructure that will eventually lead to an incredible future that is inclusive of all citizens of America.