Segregation in the United States

Imagine yourself living in a land where segregation defines your way of life. All public facilities have labels of either "black" or "white." Interaction between whites and blacks causes race problems. Blacks, naturally viewed as inferior to whites, had to segregate themselves from white populations because the Equal Protection Clause of the 14^th Amendment of the United States Constitution forced them into segregation. During the time of the case of Plessy V. Ferguson, in 1896, blacks and whites had to endure segregation in railroad cars. Whites only sat in their designated car, as did blacks. Charles W. Chesnutt, Booker T. Washington, and W.E.B. Du Bois all have opinions about the Plessy case. They all view segregation in the United States somewhat differently and have various methods as to how blacks should respond.

Charles W. Chesnutt is acknowledged as the first important African American fiction writer. He said people's rights exist within the Constitution and the courts have to apply and interpret an individual's rights. Chesnutt believes if the capital had established elsewhere, perhaps in New York instead of Philadelphia, the Negro would have his rights enlarged and recognized. Chesnutt doesn't feel blacks should accept segregation, because if they do, then blacks accept a sense of inferior citizenship. He longed for the day when blacks truly equaled whites, where they would have the same treatment under the law of the land. To acquire equality and escape segregation, he thought blacks should standup for himself in response to segregation.

Booker T. Washington, born a slave on a Virginia Plantation, had a desire to learn to read. He read the bible every day, which influenced his thoughts and his style of speech. In 1881, Washington became head of the Tuskegee institute, a school for blacks, in Alabama. Washington feels blacks should not impose demands upon whites, but instead prove themselves worthy of respect of self-government by demonstrating discipline through working hard and acquiring skills; political and social recognition would then follow thus ending segregation. Washington said he does not mind segregation, but he believes the accommodations for whites and blacks do not impart equality. He commands blacks to, "Cast down your bucket where you are," [121] so blacks will make friends and assimilate to better their situation. He believes whites need blacks to live because whites rely heavily on blacks and blacks should thus have equal treatment socially and politically.

W.E.B. Du Bois established himself as the foremost African American intellectual of the twentieth century. As one of the founders in 1909 of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, his primary goal entailed overturning the Plessy Decision. He described something called, "double-consciousness" where blacks essentially have two distinct identities. The possession of "two souls" gave blacks the opportunity to have an inside and outside perspective. However, "double-consciousness" deprives blacks of a secure sense of identity [141] and creates an in-born idea in black's heads. Under "double-consciousness," blacks compare themselves as inferior to the dominant white culture. Du Bois believed blacks fell into segregation because they view themselves as naturally inferior to the white race, essentially "forcing" blacks into segregation. If blacks did not view themselves as inferior they would not receive such harsh treatment through segregation. Negroes wanted for people to consider them as both Negroes and an American without being treated like nothing. Du Bois strongly felt blacks should receive recognition as men, and nothing less. He realized segregation entails the "higher" clashes with the "lower" races. Most notably, he believed society should function with whites and blacks on the same level, politically and socially, for a better world.

All three black men like any others have differing views, but they do have minute similarities. They all acknowledged segregation had problems of "separate but equal" accommodations. They all believe blacks should have equality within a white dominated society. Chesnutt said blacks should not accept segregation, Washington doesn't oppose segregation as long as it's "separate but equal," and Du Bois is against segregation and felt if blacks didn't subject themselves to "double-consciousness" they would evade segregation. Today, all three men would feel extremely happy if they saw today's un-segregated world.

Source: Plessy Vs. Ferguson Separate But Equal. July 2000. F. R. Parker. Book.