Policy promoted by Booker T Washington

Definition

The policy promoted by Booker T. Washington emphasized vocational education and economic self-reliance as a means for African Americans to achieve social and political advancement in the post-Reconstruction era. Washington advocated for a gradual approach to civil rights, believing that through hard work and economic success, African Americans could earn the respect of white society and eventually gain greater equality.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Washington's policy was rooted in the belief that economic independence would lead to social acceptance and political rights for African Americans.
2. The Atlanta Compromise speech delivered by Washington in 1895 emphasized cooperation between whites and blacks in the South, focusing on mutual economic benefit.
3. Washington believed that African Americans should prioritize vocational training over classical education, arguing that practical skills would improve their economic situation.
4. His approach was widely accepted among many white leaders, as it aligned with their preference for gradual change rather than immediate demands for civil rights.
5. Despite its popularity, Washington's policy faced criticism from other African American leaders who felt it compromised too much and delayed the fight for full civil rights.

Review Questions

• How did Booker T. Washington's policy influence the educational opportunities available to African Americans during his time?
  • Booker T. Washington's policy significantly shaped educational opportunities by promoting vocational education as a means for African Americans to improve their economic status. His establishment of the Tuskegee Institute exemplified this focus, offering practical training in various trades and agriculture. By prioritizing skills that were in demand, Washington aimed to equip African Americans with the tools necessary for self-sufficiency and success in a segregated society.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of Washington's policy compared to that of his contemporaries, particularly W.E.B. Du Bois.
  • Washington's policy was effective in gaining support from certain white leaders who preferred gradual progress over immediate demands for civil rights. However, it also faced significant criticism, particularly from W.E.B. Du Bois, who argued that Washington's approach was too accommodating and would ultimately hinder the quest for equality. Du Bois advocated for higher education and political action, suggesting that without a push for civil rights, economic gains would not result in true social acceptance or justice.
• Analyze how Booker T. Washington's policy reflected broader societal attitudes towards race relations in the United States during the Gilded Age.
  • Washington's policy reflected a complex interplay of societal attitudes towards race relations during the Gilded Age, characterized by widespread racism and a reluctance among many white Americans to support full equality for African Americans. His emphasis on vocational training and economic self-reliance appealed to those who sought stability in a racially divided society, promoting a vision where cooperation between races was possible without challenging the existing social order. This approach highlighted the prevailing belief that African Americans needed to prove their worthiness for rights through economic success rather than direct confrontation of racial injustices.

Related terms

Atlanta Compromise: An agreement articulated by Washington that suggested African Americans should focus on vocational training and economic advancement rather than immediate civil rights.

Tuskegee Institute:

A historically black college founded by Washington in 1881 that focused on vocational training and education for African Americans.

W.E.B. Du Bois:

An African American intellectual and civil rights activist who opposed Washington's approach, advocating for immediate civil rights and higher education for a 'Talented Tenth' of the black population.