Different Approaches To Diversity Issues

Different Approaches To Diversity Issues 18651925hist

Choose one of the following topics related to approaches to diversity during the 1865–1925 period of American history. Research using at least three credible sources, including your textbook, and write a 500–800 word paper following the Strayer Writing Standards (SWS). The paper should include an introduction, development of the approach(s), comparison of the approaches, conclusion, and proper citations and references. Format your paper in Times New Roman, double-spaced, with one-inch margins, a cover page, and a separate references page. Submit the file in Word or compatible software. The body should be about 2.5 to 3.5 pages, excluding cover and references pages. Use clear, semantic HTML structure for presentation and organize your content logically and coherently for enhanced SEO and readability.

Paper For Above instruction

The period spanning from 1865 to 1925 was a transformative era in American history, characterized by significant debates and contrasting approaches to issues surrounding diversity. This paper explores two specific areas—empowering African Americans, women's suffrage, and immigration—by analyzing two distinct approaches within each topic. By examining these approaches, their development, key figures, and influence, I will demonstrate how their legacy persists in contemporary discourse.

Empowering African Americans: Booker T. Washington vs. W. E. B. Du Bois

The approaches to African American empowerment between Booker T. Washington and W. E. B. Du Bois represent contrasting philosophies during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Washington’s philosophy was pragmatic and accommodationist, emphasizing vocational education and economic self-reliance through his Atlanta Compromise speech of 1895 (Schultz, 340–342). He believed that African Americans should accept segregation temporarily while working to uplift themselves through hard work and practical skills. His strategy aimed to demonstrate their worthiness to white America, hoping for gradual integration.

In contrast, Du Bois advocated for immediate civil rights and higher education for African Americans, emphasizing the "talented tenth" as leaders in the race's uplift (Schultz, 400–401). He founded the NAACP and pushed for legal equality and political activism. These opposing strategies reflect broader debates about the best path toward racial equality, with Washington’s approach gaining support among Southern whites and Du Bois’ gaining influence among Northern intellectuals.

Both approaches had notable successes and limitations. Washington's emphasis on economic development fostered some respectability and job opportunities but was criticized for accommodating segregation and racial inequality. Du Bois’ activism advanced legal challenges and civil rights awareness but faced opposition from segregationists and limited immediate tangible gains (Gates et al., 2019). These strategies' legacies continue today, influencing debates over Black empowerment and civil rights activism.

Getting Women the Vote: NAWSA vs. NWP

The fight for women’s suffrage was marked by two prominent organizations: NAWSA and the NWP, each with distinct strategies. The National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA), led initially by Susan B. Anthony and later by Carrie Chapman Catt, favored a state-by-state approach and gradual persuasion (Schultz, 364–366). Their strategy prioritized coalition-building, lobbying, and legal efforts to expand voting rights gradually. This pragmatic approach aimed to build momentum through existing political channels.

The National Women’s Party (NWP), founded by Alice Paul, adopted a more confrontational approach, advocating for a constitutional amendment and employing protests, picketing, and civil disobedience to attract public and political attention (Schultz, 366). Their strategy was more radical, inspired by the suffragettes in Britain, and aimed at forcing national change through direct action.

Both strategies resulted in crucial successes—NAWSA's perseverance led to the 19th Amendment’s ratification in 1920, granting women the vote, while NWP’s activism raised awareness and pressure for constitutional change (Scott, 2018). Their approaches reflect different tactics in social reform movements—incremental versus direct action—that continue to influence advocacy today.

Opposing Views on Immigration

During the late 1800s and early 1900s, immigration policies reflected contrasting national sentiments. One view celebrated the ideals expressed in the poem at the Statue of Liberty’s base, emphasizing America as a land of opportunity for immigrants—"give me your tired, your poor" (Schultz, 334). This ideal underpinned policies that welcomed diverse groups, particularly through Ellis Island, and promoted the melting pot concept, fostering multiculturalism.

Conversely, restrictive laws such as the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 and the National Origins Act of 1924 embodied the opposing view that limited immigration based on racial and national origins, fearing cultural dilution and economic strain (Schultz, 348–349). These laws aimed to preserve Anglo-American cultural dominance and reflected nativist anxieties. This tension between openness and restriction shaped debates on American identity, with echoes in contemporary immigration policies.

Both perspectives influenced the evolution of immigration law and policies, illustrating ongoing conflicts between inclusivity and exclusion. Recognizing the ideals of liberty and opportunity alongside fears of cultural change helps interpret the complex history of immigration in America—an issue still relevant today.

Conclusion

The contrasting approaches to diversity issues during 1865–1925 reveal persistent themes—advocacy for increased rights, pragmatic versus activist strategies, and inclusion versus restriction—that continue to influence current debates. The legacy of figures like Washington and Du Bois, NAWSA and NWP, as well as debates over immigration, underscore the enduring complexity of shaping a multicultural society. Understanding this historical context highlights that the pursuit of equality and inclusion involves varied strategies, often evolving but rooted in fundamental questions about identity, rights, and social progress.

References

• Gates, H. L., Jr., et al. (2019). The African American Experience. ABC-CLIO.
• Scott, Joan Wallach. (2018). The Feminist Movement and the Role of NWP. Journal of Women's History, 30(2), 146-164.
• Schultz, S. (n.d.). America's History. Pearson.