Final answer:
Populist leaders aimed to unite poor blacks and whites against economic exploitation, though their efforts were not without self-interest and underlying racial biases. Contrasting approaches toward African American advancement were advocated by Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois, who had differing views on how to achieve equality and empowerment.
Step-by-step explanation:
The individuals who tried to convince poor black and whites that they were being betrayed and fleeced were Populist leaders. This movement occurred during the late 19th century, particularly in the South, where leaders like Tom Watson sought to align the interests of poor white farmers with those of black sharecroppers. They opposed the mechanisms that disenfranchised black voters, especially when they affected black individuals inclined toward the Populist Party. While these Populist leaders resisted certain forms of discrimination, their motives were often strategic and premised on an underlying commitment to white supremacy.
On the other hand, prominent black leaders such as Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois offered contrasting approaches to uplift the African American community. Washington advocated for self-help and vocational education as a means to gain economic strength, while Du Bois demanded immediate civil rights and higher education for the 'Talented Tenth.' Both played pivotal roles in the fight for equality, though neither directly aligned with the populists' efforts to unite poor blacks and whites on economic terms.