The Negro Problem

by Booker T. Washington (Editor), W.E.B. Du Bois (Contributor), Charles W. Chesnutt (Contributor)

Seven essays, including the Law, Disfranchisement, Industrial Education, and the Negro's Place in American Life

Genres: History, Classics, African American, Nonfiction, American, Philosophy, Race

76 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1903

About the author

Booker Taliaferro Washington was an American educator, orator, author and the dominant leader of the African-American community nationwide from the 1890s to his death. Born to slavery and freed by the Civil War in 1865, as a young man, became head of the new Tuskegee Institute, then a teachers' college for blacks. It became his base of operations. His "Atlanta Exposition" speech of 1895 appealed to middle class whites across the South, asking them to give blacks a chance to work and develop separately, while implicitly promising not to demand the vote. White leaders across the North, from politicians to industrialists, from philanthropists to churchmen, enthusiastically supported Washington, as did most middle class blacks. He was the organizer and central figure of a network linking like-minded black leaders throughout the nation and in effect spoke for Black America throughout his lifetime. Meanwhile a more militant northern group, led by W. E. B. Du Bois rejected Washington's self-help and demanded recourse to politics, referring to the speech dismissively as "The Atlanta Compromise". The critics were marginalized until the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, at which point more radical black leaders rejected Washington's philosophy and demanded federal civil rights laws.

Reviews

[Royce Ratterman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read for personal research - found this book's contents helpful and inspiring.
A good book for the researcher and enthusiast.

[Francis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yes, the essays are outdated. Although obviously works of yesteryear, the insights are applicable today — and NOT just for "negroes". Any individual or people group seeking to raise their standing among humanity would do well to consider the ideas and alternatives conveyed in this collection. Booker T. Washington — brilliant!

[Valquiria Zango · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've started reading this it's good.

[Mike Ncube · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book

[Marcus M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a must-read for every Black person or anyone who desires a post-Race America. It took me so long to read it because it triggered so many debates within, as the contributors went from calling out institutional racism in America to celebrating Black people who excelled in spite, and from there to calling out Black people for their own independent shortcomings.

[Krystal Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Read

This is my first to.e reading a book about the past. I'm astonished. It made me hopeful and full of pride for the Negro. It commanded change in myself and the way I view my "education." I would definitely recommend everyone to read this book.

[Jay · Rating 5 out of 5]

He discusses how status quo and hew education are at odds with each other.

[John McCorsley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a BIT MORE THAN A SIMPLE REVIEW. It's a little personal history, a little reflection, and a WHOLE LOT OF HISTORICAL REALISM & ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF FACTS!

I injected my personal history as to why I BELIEVE THIS BOOK "THE NEGRO PROBLEM" SHOULD BE READ BY EVERY PERSON OF EVERY RACE & NATIONALITY! Especially those who have recently relocated to these UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

I am a 69 yr. old caucasian male. I grew up mostly in Wilmington, NC from the late 1950's to the early 1970's. My only remembrance of Booker T. Washington was the very BRIEF acknowledgement of his NAME; BUT: FOR WHAT... I COULD NOT TELL YOU. Additionally, I ONLY RECENTLY LEARNED OF THE 1898 WILMINGTON RACE RIOTS.
https://www.zinnedproject.org/news/td...

NONE OF THIS IMPORTANT HISTORICAL FACT, WAS NEVER EVER MENTIONED IN HISTORY CLASS IN WILMINGTON, NC!

By chance, I came accross this book & began reading this book. MOSTLY, out of curiosity. Based solely on the Title! A question came to mind.
My Question was:
"Why would a Black Man living in the late 1800's & now a 'FREEDMAN" Title his book "The Negro Problem"?

On reading this book, I found it to be one of the most CRITICAL ARGUMENTS FOR THE NECESSITY AND THE IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION NO MATTER OF ANY RACE, ETHNICITY, OR NATIONALITY! IT APPLIES TO EVERY HUMAN!!!

Both of my parents never made it to High School. My Puerto Rican mother made it to 8th Grade & My Scotts-Irish Dad, he only got as far as the 6th Grade. I WITNESSED THE EXPERIENCES HAD BY MY MOTHER. But; in the 1960's The IRISH & SCOTT'S-IRISH HAD FINALLY BECOME ACCEPTABLE. He had overlooked his WIFE'S and my sister & my MOTHER'S Puerto Rican Heritage. UNFORTUNATELY; HIS SIBLINGS & THEIR SPOUSES EXPRESSED THEIR DISAPPROVAL OF THEIR MARRIAGE.

I WISH I had had the opportunity to read this book in Elementary or High School. Unfortunately, MY MIND WAS FOCUSED on SPORTS & getting by. THIS WAS MY HUGE MISTAKE!

I SHOULD HAVE PERSONALLY DONE BETTER! AND THE COUNTY & STATE EDUCATIONS SYSTEM of NC SHOULD have BEen HONEST ABOUT OUR STATE'S HISTORICAL FACTS.

THERE IS AN OLD SAYING e.g. "The TRUTH will SET YOU FREE!" So for our EDUCATORS, BOARD'S OF EDUCATION, & FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL'S SHOULD STOP THE FEAR MONGERING, THE SEGREGATIONIST MIND SET & MISGUIDED CONCEPT OF RACIAL, ETHNIC, OR NATIONAL SUPERIORITY!

OPEN YOUR DAMN MIND! READ THIS BOOK. WHY? BECAUSE IT MAKES PERFECT SENSE! HERE ARE SOME 20th CENTURY EXAMPLES OF A TOTALLY SKEWED VISION OF REALITY! "IF YOU ARE NOT NATIVE AMERICAN" YOU ARE AN IMMIGRANT!!!

BUT: SOME OF US in the "IMMIGRANT CATAGORY," HAVE THIS CRAZY BELIEF THAT "THEY ARE SUPERIOR" TO ALL OTHERS!!!!

WELL THAT THOUGHT, ALONG WITH THE FORMER GUY "T" ARE JUST TOTALLY FU#@*^% NUTS!!! And those individuals need to BUY A CLUE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

https://www.history.com/news/when-ame...

https://timeline.com/the-shameful-tre...

https://www.zinnedproject.org/news/td...

https://www.turing.org.uk/book/

https://www.uh.edu/engines/epi127.htm

https://pappaspost.com/today-undesira...

IF: you have navigated through this combination review, personal history, and my personal discorse regarding RACE, ETHNICITY, OR NATIONALITY. If you HATED IT! Tell me why. And DITTO IF YOU AGREED WITH MY VIEW THAT EVERY PERSON SHOULD BE RECOGNIZED AS EQUAL. BECAUSE THROUGH DIVERSITY WE ALL GROW STRONGER!!!

[Logan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a collection of essays by the most prominent African Americans of the period. Of course I've heard of Washington and DuBois but I'd not heard of some of the others and it was a pleasure to read their perspectives on the problems they perceived with not only race relations but with the "negro" society and culture. They talked about education, work ethics, prejudice, vocations and a whole myriad of other topics. And many of them disagreed with each other on proposed solutions or identified problems but all of them made excellent points. Definitely worth reading the varied perspectives here.

[Jordan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't know what I was supposed to get out of this, but the fact that nothing seems to have changed, and we are being made to believe our situation is because of our own flaws as a group and that it would be ridiculous to think slavery (and all the consequences) has nothing to do with it is just depressing. This didn't make me feel good. There were some point I had not considered, but the fact remains that they are just as much true now as then, which brings me to the conclusion that there really hasn't been much progress, just a shift in blame and a skewing of perspective.

[T. Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Informative

This book is a must read for blacks to get a point of view from several writers. This book is also an easy read. It explain some things that I as an adult never was taught in school.

[Jennifer M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read. A small window into what to do after slavery.

[Sabura · Rating 4 out of 5]

This country is a hot mess! This book helps you to see how much so.

[Stephen Masri · Rating 5 out of 5]

An old book, not much read these days, but thoroughly instructive. A must read for every American.

[Amari]

Hard to rate since I read it for educational value, not enjoyment. I do feel that I've learned plenty and have a better understanding of Black academia at the time.

[Fred B. Kush]

Although written over 100 years ago, it's still very applicable for today.

[Yossi Khebzou · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some of the content of the essays is, of course, outdated. However, much of it remains true, and that’s what hurts. Racism has evolved in its ways, but at its core it remains the same. Although slow at times, this collection of texts is an important read.

[Sirjan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful collection of essays by eminent black scholars of that time. Various contexts of slavery, reconstruction and Jim Crow era are eloquently illustrated. If you are looking to understand the frustration, desperation and hope of the black people and how the southern whites and political system failed to recognize a race that made America what it is, this is a book will illuminate on the issues that are still relevant to some extent.