Theodore Vincent said "In Black American history there are two personal feuds which stand out beyond all others W. E. B. Du Bois vs. Booker T. Washington and W. E. B. Du Bois vs. Marcus Garvey" 1 . Reason enough to examine at least one of these two conflicts, as they are an important factor of Black history, because they do not show united Blacks that fight side by side for their rights, but Blacks that forget that they actually fight on the same side over a personal conflict.
I will first give the history of the conflict, befo re analyzing some of the articles that were written in this conflict and that mirror the history and briefly show the main reasons for it.
Table of Contents
I. INTRODUCTION
II. MAIN PART
1. THE HISTORY OF THE CONFLICT
1.1 The First Contacts
1.2 The Beginnings of the Conflict
1.3 The Time of the Conflict
2. ARTICLES FROM THE CONFLICT
2.1 “Marcus Garvey”
2.2 “W. E. B. Du Bois as a Hater of Dark People”
2.3 “Motive of the NAACP exposed”
2.4 “A Lunatic or a Traitor”
3. THE REASONS FOR THE CONFLICT
III.CONCLUSION
Research Objectives and Themes
This academic work examines the personal and ideological feud between W. E. B. Du Bois and Marcus Garvey, two prominent leaders in Black American history. It aims to analyze how their fundamentally different visions for racial advancement led to a public conflict that shifted from professional disagreement to aggressive personal attacks, ultimately hindering their collective goal of fighting racial injustice.
- The historical timeline of the relationship between Du Bois and Garvey.
- An analysis of key published articles and rhetorical strategies used by both leaders during the escalation of the conflict.
- The fundamental ideological divide between nationalist and integrationist approaches.
- The impact of rivalry, competition for supporters, and personal temperament on the deterioration of their public discourse.
Excerpt from the Book
1.1 The First Contacts
When W. E. B. Du Bois and Marcus Garvey had their first contact in May 1915, Du Bois already was a Black leader in the US, while Garvey had just the month before established his UNIA in Jamaica. Du Bois was on a visit in Jamaica, and received a very friendly welcome letter by Garvey. Soon afterwards they met in person, shook hands and Garvey told Du Bois briefly of his plans, eager to find a supporter in him.
Almost one year later, Garvey came to the US for a speaking tour through the country to raise money for a project in Jamaica. Garvey wanted to invite Du Bois in person to his first lecture and therefore visited the NAACP headquarters. As Du Bois was not there, he left an invitation that was declined in a polite way by Du Bois, but nevertheless Du Bois announced Garvey's tour in his magazine "the Crisis".
During his tour Garvey decided, that the US was the place for his ideas and that he should therefore stay in the United States. He started speaking weekly in Harlem, soon found a huge amount of followers, officially founded the US branch of the UNIA end of July 1918 and short afterwards established the UNIA newspaper "The Negro World".
Summary of Chapters
I. INTRODUCTION: This chapter contextualizes the conflict between W. E. B. Du Bois and Marcus Garvey as a significant yet divisive feud in Black American history that overshadowed their shared fight against racism.
II. MAIN PART: The core section traces the evolution of the dispute, starting with the initial meeting, followed by a detailed analysis of the escalating rhetorical war in their respective publications, and concluding with a synthesis of the ideological reasons for their incompatibility.
III.CONCLUSION: This summary reflects on the trajectory of the feud from simple acquaintance to open hostility and notes that the rivalry only subsided due to external circumstances and the eventual death of Marcus Garvey.
Keywords
Marcus Garvey, W. E. B. Du Bois, UNIA, NAACP, The Crisis, Segregation, Black History, Integrationism, Nationalism, Pan-Africanism, Black Star Line, Political Feud, Race Relations, Harlem Renaissance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental focus of this academic work?
The work examines the long-standing personal and ideological conflict between W. E. B. Du Bois and Marcus Garvey, analyzing how their rivalry impacted the broader fight for racial rights.
What are the central themes discussed in the publication?
The core themes include the clash between Du Bois's integrationist approach and Garvey's nationalist vision, the role of their respective organizations (NAACP and UNIA), and the escalation of their public insults.
What is the primary objective of this study?
The study aims to understand why two prominent leaders fighting for the same cause—the advancement of the Black race—spent significant energy engaging in a destructive personal conflict rather than collaborating.
Which scientific methods are utilized?
The author employs a historical-analytical approach, focusing on the examination of primary sources, including published essays, editorials, and historical documentation of the era's political discourse.
What is covered in the main section of the paper?
The main part documents the chronological history of their relationship, provides a detailed content analysis of key articles from their feud, and evaluates the psychological and structural reasons for their irreconcilable differences.
Which keywords best characterize this research?
The work is characterized by terms such as racial nationalism, integrationism, Black leadership, political conflict, and the specific historical figures Du Bois and Garvey.
How does the author analyze Garvey's specific article "Motive of the NAACP exposed"?
The author highlights Garvey's rhetorical shift in this piece, noting his attempt to link the NAACP to an exclusionary "caste aristocracy" and his effort to reveal "hidden motives" to his supporters while in prison.
What does the text conclude about the "A Lunatic or a Traitor" article by Du Bois?
The text analyzes how Du Bois used this editorial to justify his movement's turn toward aggressive public criticism by framing Garvey as a dangerous ally of the Ku Klux Klan and a threat to the Negro race.
- Quote paper
- Eva Kiss (Author), 2001, The Conflict Between Marcus Garvey and W. E. B. Du Bois, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/30745
