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Booker T. Washington

1856 – 1915 American educator, author, orator

American educator who built Tuskegee Institute and championed vocational training for Black Americans.

Religion
Baptist.
Affiliations
Founded and led the Tuskegee Institute.

Born into slavery in Virginia, Booker T. Washington became the leading Black educator of his era after founding the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama in 1881. He promoted vocational and industrial training as a path to economic self reliance for Black Americans. His accommodationist approach drew sharp criticism from W. E. B. Du Bois, who pressed for higher education and immediate civil rights.

Connections

  • rival of W. E. B. Du Bois — Clashed over vocational versus liberal higher education for Black Americans.
  • rival of W. E. B. Du Bois — Opposed Washington's accommodationism and vocational emphasis.

In the timeline

Wikipedia