Final answer:
Booker T. Washington was the leader who advocated for the economic and financial upliftment of the African-American community before pursuing a mass civil rights movement. He emphasized education and entrepreneurship through his establishment of the Tuskegee Institute and was known for his 'work and wait' philosophy articulated in the Atlanta Compromise.
Step-by-step explanation:
Booker T. Washington's Economic Focus for African American Community
The leader who had a plan to build up the African-American community economically and financially before starting a mass movement for rights was Booker T. Washington.
In his renowned speech at the Atlanta Compromise, Washington proposed that African Americans focus on vocational training and personal development.
He strongly believed that through hard work and economic self-sufficiency, African Americans could pave the way toward gaining respect and ultimately civil rights within society.
Despite criticism from other African American leaders like W.E.B. Du Bois, who advocated for immediate political and social equality, Washington's approach focused on education and entrepreneurship as the foundation for his community's advancement.
Washington's vision led him to establish the Tuskegee Institute, providing vocational education aimed at equipping African Americans with practical skills for economic success.
His call was for African Americans to improve themselves through education and entrepreneurship, and to patiently earn political and civil liberties by demonstrating their value to society.
This strategy was met with diverse reactions, gaining him both support and opposition.