Booker T Washington Research Paper

498 Words2 Pages

“It is at the bottom of life we must begin, not the top.” Booker T. Washington’s philosophy was that African Americans should accept segregation. Born on April 5, 1856 in Virginia, Washington. Was 9 when slavery ended. Before going to school, he worked in salt and coal mines for 6 years. He went to Hampton Institute, studied at Wayland Seminary, then went back to Hampton Institute to become a teacher. He also was principal and president of Tuskegee University for 9 years. He thought that if we do what he believed in, then we gain opportunities like going to school and getting jobs, he wanted Blacks to prove they were just as smart and work just as hard as white people. Many people believe that W.E.B. Dubois had a better philosophy because he …show more content…

Washington has a more effective philosophy because he believes that African Americans should be happy with the common jobs provided, Blacks should take a calm approach to segregation, and work hard to prove that African Americans are just as good as white people. Booker T. Washington believed African Americans should take advantage of the common jobs available. Specifically, African Americans should work with the jobs available and then work their way up from there. African Americans should be sharecroppers, tenant farmers, and barbers.Evidently, African Americans should instead try to do more, just use the opportunities available. In conclusion, African Americans should be satisfied with the common jobs and opportunities given.African Americans should take a subtle approach toward ending segregation. Explicitly, African Americans should accept and follow segregation laws. For example, Washington went to school, worked hard and followed Jim Crow laws, and is successful. "In all things that are purely social, we can be as separate as the fingers, yet one as the hand in all things essential to mutual progress" -- a tacit recognition and acceptance of segregation. Understandably, Washington said this to show that he would accept