Final answer:
Booker T. Washington advocated for African American self-improvement through practical education and economic progress within the limits of a segregated society. His approach, known as accommodation, balanced pragmatism with the quest for racial equality, which remains a point of debate among scholars.
Step-by-step explanation:
Booker T. Washington, a prominent African-American leader during the Progressive Era, believed in empowering the formerly enslaved through education and entrepreneurship. Washington founded the Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute in 1881, emphasizing industrial education and practical skills for Black Americans, which he saw as tools for economic independence and improving the community's standing. This approach was seen in his famous "Atlanta Compromise" speech, where he maintained that self-improvement and economic progress were priorities, even if it meant temporally accepting segregation and second-class citizenship for African Americans.
Washington's strategy of accommodation sought to balance immediate practical advancements within the confines of a segregated society against the long-term goal of full equality. While controversial, as highlighted by critiques from W.E.B. Du Bois and others, Washington's approach focused on acquiring property, skills, and education as a pathway to respect and progress. However, his acceptance of segregation and incremental change fostered debate among Black leaders regarding the best strategies for achieving racial equality and civil rights.
Despite criticisms, Washington also engaged in numerous behind-the-scenes efforts to support civil rights initiatives, challenging the notion that he was solely an accommodationist. His legacy remains complex, seen as a blend of realism and strategic compromise aimed at advancing the status of African Americans during a time of deep racial division.