Booker T Washington Research Paper

Booker T. Washington was one of the most well-known African-American leaders of the late 19th and early 20th centuries had a rough and interesting beginning, had good arguments and ideas, and founded the Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute that most people know today. On April 5, 1856, Booker Taliaferro was born to a black woman with the name Jane. It wasn’t until later that Booker would change his name to Booker T. Washington. Jane was a slave and lived in Virginia. Booker’s father’s identity is unknown, but what we do know of him is his race: white. Booker began to work in slavery as a young child(“Who is Booker T Washington?”). In that era, children born by a slave automatically became slaves themselves. Booker knew he was meant

Washington introduced new ideas of freedom for blacks. He believed that there should be no slavery and blacks should be able to go to school and contribute to society just like everyone else(“Booker T Washington”). Washington gave many speeches on his ideas. Blacks, as well as whites, believed in what Booker said and wanted change for society(“Booker T Washington”). Just as people agreed, there were people who strongly disagreed. One of these people, William Du Bois, had similar beliefs, but different ways he wanted to go about civil rights and freeing. He was born into a freed black family and had a great education and published many books on his ideas, one of which he openly criticized Washington. Their different beliefs on pursuing the movement caused a separation between the population(Admin). Washington believed in urging blacks to join the workforce and wanted whites to provide industrial and vocational education for blacks to work which would, in turn, cause more discrimination because whites were giving the blacks everything they need(Admin).He wanted blacks and whites to compromise on this. Booker trained and taught African-Americans for useful and common jobs, thus contributing to society. He believed this would allow acceptance of blacks, but not equal rights. Booker was just looking for black acceptance, but not equality and nondiscrimination. Du Bois on the other hand, demanded equal rights for all races and equal voting