Talented Tenth

Definition

The 'Talented Tenth' was a concept developed by W.E.B. Du Bois, a prominent African American scholar and civil rights leader, which emphasized the importance of educating and empowering the top 10% of the black community to serve as leaders and role models for the rest. This idea was central to the movement for racial equality and advancement in the early 20th century.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The 'Talented Tenth' concept emphasized that the most educated and capable African Americans should take on the responsibility of uplifting the rest of the community.
2. Du Bois believed that this elite group of black leaders, professionals, and intellectuals could serve as role models and catalysts for broader social and economic progress.
3. The 'Talented Tenth' strategy aimed to create a class of educated, influential African Americans who could challenge racial discrimination and advocate for the rights of their community.
4. The concept was a response to the more accommodationist approach of Booker T. Washington, who focused on industrial education and economic self-sufficiency rather than political activism.
5. The 'Talented Tenth' idea was influential in shaping the priorities and strategies of the early 20th-century civil rights movement, including the founding of the NAACP.

Review Questions

• Explain the key principles and goals of the 'Talented Tenth' concept proposed by W.E.B. Du Bois.
  • The 'Talented Tenth' concept developed by W.E.B. Du Bois emphasized the importance of educating and empowering the most capable African Americans to serve as leaders and role models for the broader black community. The underlying idea was that this elite group of educated and influential individuals could spearhead the movement for racial equality and uplift the social, economic, and political status of African Americans. Du Bois believed that by creating a class of black professionals, intellectuals, and activists, the 'Talented Tenth' could challenge racial discrimination and advocate for the rights of their community, ultimately driving progress and advancement.
• Analyze the differences between the 'Talented Tenth' approach and the more accommodationist strategies of Booker T. Washington.
  • The 'Talented Tenth' concept proposed by W.E.B. Du Bois differed significantly from the approach advocated by Booker T. Washington. While Washington focused on industrial education and economic self-sufficiency, Du Bois believed that the most educated and capable African Americans should take on the responsibility of political activism and social change. The 'Talented Tenth' strategy aimed to create a class of influential black leaders and intellectuals who could challenge racial discrimination and advocate for the rights of their community. This contrasted with Washington's more accommodationist stance, which emphasized gradual progress through economic advancement rather than direct confrontation with racial injustice.
• Evaluate the impact and legacy of the 'Talented Tenth' concept on the early 20th-century civil rights movement.
  • The 'Talented Tenth' concept proposed by W.E.B. Du Bois had a significant impact on the priorities and strategies of the early 20th-century civil rights movement. By emphasizing the importance of educating and empowering the most capable African Americans to serve as leaders and advocates, the 'Talented Tenth' idea shaped the movement's focus on developing a class of influential black professionals, intellectuals, and activists. This approach influenced the founding and early priorities of organizations like the NAACP, which sought to challenge racial discrimination and advance the rights of African Americans through legal and political means. The legacy of the 'Talented Tenth' can be seen in the continued emphasis on education, leadership development, and advocacy as key strategies for achieving racial equality and social progress.

Related terms

W.E.B. Du Bois:

An influential African American sociologist, historian, civil rights activist, and co-founder of the NAACP, who proposed the 'Talented Tenth' concept as a strategy for black advancement.

Black Uplift: The movement to improve the social, economic, and political status of African Americans through education, leadership development, and advocacy.

Racial Equality: The principle of ensuring equal rights, opportunities, and treatment for people of all races, without discrimination or prejudice.