Booker T. Washington was an influential African American educator, author, and leader born in 1856. He founded the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama, which focused on vocational training for Black students. Washington believed that education and hard work were essential for African Americans to improve their social and economic status.
Washington is best known for his philosophy of accommodation, which emphasized gradual progress and self-help. He advocated for practical skills and economic independence rather than immediate civil rights. His approach sparked debate among other leaders, including W.E.B. Du Bois, who favored a more direct challenge to racial discrimination.