Charles Chesnutt Debates Washington and Du Bois Essay

Charles Chesnutt Debates Washington and Du Bois - Essay Example Washington: Of course laws are manipulated to hinder our progress and advancement. But we as blacks, in our own hunger and impatience also endeavor to regulate and manipulate perhaps too much and all at once. Nonetheless, in this social tug of war, we have already managed to strive and attain a compromise with the powers that be. Du Bois: A compromise is not enough. As Chestnutt says, the persistent funk of the matter still exists. This idea about obstructions and obstacles has already been established and understood in all of humanity; it is an absolute truth of all struggles, as in the Greek and Roman tragedies. Obstacles caused by the enemy as well as by the protagonist are inevitable in all epics and in all realities. Such 'evil' powers have always existed to obstruct the advancement of any race, of any people C: Now, beyond fairytales and myths, if we are truly emancipated should not all of society take up the responsibility of our emancipation Should not all of society, black or white, be held accountable for such manipulations of power that continue to degrade and oppress our progress W: Such responsibility and accountability take time. We as blacks have to accommodate ourselves to our newly acquired rights and we need to pacify the fears of the whites to establish a dialogue and a trust. D: Just as much as the whites have to accommodate to us ... Obstacles caused by the enemy as well as by the protagonist are inevitable in all epics and in all realities. Such 'evil' powers have always existed to obstruct the advancement of any race, of any people C: Now, beyond fairytales and myths, if we are truly emancipated should not all of society take up the responsibility of our emancipation Should not all of society, black or white, be held accountable for such manipulations of power that continue to degrade and oppress our progress W: Such responsibility and accountability take time. We as blacks have to accommodate ourselves to our newly acquired rights and we need to pacify the fears of the whites to establish a dialogue and a trust. D: Just as much as the whites have to accommodate to us being free, to us being educated, respected and held among the great intellectuals of society. We cannot humble ourselves too much or we'll be slaves again, brother. W: Yes but absolute emancipation will never happen over night. You cannot merely change white to black by adding in a completely new color which has never existed. The desired shades of grey or any color for that matter must go through their process to reach a compromise. C: Maybe you're right. We don't want white or black, we want white and black, and that is what black folks and white folks do not understand. The war is over. Perhaps it's time for an understanding- D: Well, I think what there needs to be is a sincerely desired resolution by both parties. The blacks need to establish themselves wholeheartedly and maybe even a little forcefully with their God given rights- W: Yet sensibly- D: To an extent. Whereas the whites need to earnestly acknowledge that yes, there must indeed be an acceptance of our rights and not a fear. One cannot try to outsmart