Talented tenth facts for kids
The talented tenth is a term used in the early 1900s to describe a special group of African Americans. These were people believed to be leaders for their community. Even though white helpers from the North first used the term, it is mostly linked to W. E. B. Du Bois. He used it as the title for an important essay he wrote in 1903. This essay was part of a book called The Negro Problem. This book was a collection of essays by important African Americans, put together by Booker T. Washington.
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The Idea of the Talented Tenth
The phrase "talented tenth" first appeared in 1896. It came from white people in the Northern United States who wanted to help. Specifically, it came from the American Baptist Home Mission Society. This group was a Christian missionary society. John D. Rockefeller gave them a lot of money. Their goal was to start Black colleges in the South. These colleges would train Black teachers and leaders.
In 1903, W.E.B. Du Bois wrote his essay, The Talented Tenth. At this time, Theodore Roosevelt was the U.S. president. Industries were growing very fast. Du Bois felt it was a good time for African Americans to improve their place in society.
The "Talented Tenth" referred to about one out of ten Black men. These men would use their college education to become leaders. They would write books and work directly for social change. In his essay, Du Bois said these educated African American men should put their own interests aside. They should use their learning to guide and improve the Black community.
He strongly believed that Black people needed a classical education. This kind of education would help them reach their full potential. This was different from the industrial education that Booker T. Washington and some white helpers supported. Du Bois saw classical education as the best way to make the Black community better. He believed it would create what we now call public intellectuals. These are thinkers who share their ideas to help society.
Du Bois wrote:
We will have true men only when we make manhood the goal of our schools. This means intelligence, broad understanding, knowledge of the past and present world, and how people fit into it. This is what higher education should teach. On this base, we can learn how to earn a living. We can gain skills and quick thinking. We will never worry that children and adults might confuse how they live with the real purpose of life.
Later in his life, Du Bois started to believe that leadership could come from many levels. He thought that efforts from everyday people were also important for social change. His stepson, David Du Bois, tried to share these ideas. In 1972, he wrote that Du Bois believed: "We should look to those who have suffered the most and have the least to lose for strong, reliable, and firm leadership."
In his Talented Tenth essay, Du Bois also wrote:
The Negro race, like all races, will be saved by its special people. So, education among Black people must first focus on the Talented Tenth. It is about helping the best people in this race grow. They can then guide the larger group away from bad influences and danger.
Later, in his book Dusk of Dawn, Du Bois explained this idea again. He recognized that other men also made important contributions. He wrote that his earlier idea was for a group of talented people to lead the larger group. But he said the power of this talented group would come from their knowledge and good character, not from their money.
How Education Helps the Community
W.E.B. Du Bois thought that college-educated African Americans should use their learning to improve their communities. For Du Bois, using education to help the African American community meant several things.
First, he believed the "Talented Tenth" should try to get important roles in politics. By doing this, Black communities could have people representing them in the government. Having people in government would allow these educated African Americans to take "racial action." This means they could work to solve problems faced by their race.
Du Bois believed that segregation, which was the separation of Black and white people, was a big problem. He thought that having African Americans in politics would begin to fix this issue.
Second, he also believed that education would help people start businesses. These businesses would improve the money situation for Black communities. Du Bois thought that success in business would not only help Black communities financially. It would also encourage white people to see Black people as more equal. This would help lead to integration, where African Americans could join the main business world.
A New Idea: The Guiding Hundredth
In 1948, W.E.B. Du Bois changed his "Talented Tenth" idea. He called his new idea the "Guiding Hundredth." He wanted to make the idea more open to everyone. He tried to form friendships and partnerships with other minority groups. These groups were also trying to improve their lives in society.
The "Talented Tenth" mainly focused on problems that African Americans faced. But the "Guiding Hundredth" would also help with problems that other minority groups had. Du Bois also changed his theory to highlight how important good morals were. He wanted the leaders of these communities to have values like being kind and selfless. So, when it came to who would lead, Du Bois thought morality was more important than just education.
The "Guiding Hundredth" challenged the idea that only a few special people could save African Americans. It changed the idea of Black leadership from "The Talented Tenth." It brought together ideas about race, culture, politics, and money. Du Bois still tried to keep the idea of education important. He saw education as a way for all people to get new chances. However, some people saw this new idea as a step backward. They thought it might bring back old ways of thinking and still promote the idea of an elite group.
This change was also Du Bois's way of creating a plan for African Americans after World War II. It was a way to strengthen their "ideological conscience," meaning their strong beliefs and values.
Du Bois stressed forming alliances with other minority groups. He believed this helped promote equality for all Black people. Both "The Talented Tenth" and "The Guiding Hundredth" showed that a plan for political action was needed. This was important to keep speaking to many Black people. For Du Bois, Black people's ability to express themselves in politics was the best example of Black culture. To gain freedom, Black and white cultures needed to be separate. This was to protect the unique spirit of "the universal black."
Is It Possible to Join the Talented Tenth?
To be part of this "Talented Tenth," an African American had to go to college. Many people think this requirement was hard for many African Americans to achieve. This is because the percentage of African Americans in college was much lower than the percentage of white people in college. There are several reasons for this difference.
Some people say that government policies caused this difference. For example, money help for college students from low-income families went down in the 1980s. This happened because people started to think that money problems were a thing of the past. Not having enough money for college can stop someone from going to higher education. Since many Black and African American families are low-income, they often faced this problem.
Also, because many African Americans are in low-income families, their children often go to public schools that do not get much money. When schools do not have enough money, they often provide a poorer education. This makes it harder for students to get into college. These schools also often lack resources that can prepare students for college. For instance, schools with little funding might not have college guidance counselors. Many private and well-funded public schools have these counselors.
Because of these reasons, some people argue that Du Bois's plan for the "Talented Tenth" was hard for many to reach.
See also
In Spanish: El Décimo Talentoso para niños
- African-American upper class – Modern groups that are like the Talented Tenth.
- Negro Academy – A group of scholars who published many works by the Talented Tenth.
