Final answer:
Booker T. Washington's perspective on progress for African-Americans was centered on economic self-reliance and vocational education, viewing these as the foundation for eventual social and political equality.
Step-by-step explanation:
Booker T. Washington advocated for economic self-reliance and vocational education as the main path to progress for African-Americans. According to Washington, political action alone was not sufficient for true freedom; economic stability grounded in property, industry, and education was essential. His viewpoint emphasized patience and adaptability to the social restrictions imposed by white society rather than immediate political agitation or protests. Washington's famous speech, "The Atlanta Compromise," encapsulated his belief that building strong educational foundations and securing stable jobs were more important than fighting segregation head-on. He was sometimes labeled as an accommodationist for seeming to accept segregation while working behind the scenes to improve the condition of African-American schools and advocate for civil rights.In summary, Booker T. Washington prioritized industrial education, practical skills, and economic advancement above other forms of activism, which he believed would eventually lead to equality and integration. This strategic focus shaped his influential role as an African-American leader at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries.