Answer:
Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois were two influential African American leaders who emerged during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Step-by-step explanation:
Booker T. Washington, born into slavery, advocated for an approach of gradualism and self-help. He believed that African Americans should focus on acquiring vocational skills, gaining economic independence, and proving their worth to white society through their own hard work and contributions. Washington promoted the idea of industrial education and vocational training, emphasizing the importance of practical skills that could lead to economic empowerment. In 1895, he delivered his famous Atlanta Compromise speech, in which he urged African Americans to temporarily accept segregation and discrimination in exchange for economic opportunities and educational advancements. Washington believed that by demonstrating their economic value, African Americans would eventually earn respect and equality from white society.
On the other hand, W.E.B. Du Bois, a highly educated intellectual, had a more assertive and confrontational approach towards achieving African American equality. Du Bois strongly criticized Washington's accommodationist stance and argued for immediate and full civil rights for African Americans. He believed that African Americans should demand equal treatment, political rights, and access to higher education without compromising or accepting discrimination. Du Bois co-founded the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) in 1909, which became a prominent civil rights organization fighting for racial equality through legal means. Du Bois emphasized the importance of intellectual and cultural advancement, arguing that education and knowledge were crucial for dismantling systemic racism and achieving true equality.