Booker T Washington Analysis

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Brian Scott American Political Thought April 14, 2016 Booker T. Washington’s Political Stance for Social Separation and Economic Acceptance Booker T. Washington believed in political and social economic acceptance of passive and self-improvement rather than demanding the rights that were given to white male counterparts. This examination of the how Booker T. Washington’s political and social acceptance changed not only the landscape of African American history while setting a mentality that continues even in the twenty-first century. The ideal agreement would be Southern blacks would work under white political rule, while Southern whites guaranteed that blacks would receive basic tutelage and due process of the law. Dr. Washington believed …show more content…

Washington’s political stance on social and economic stance was a positive, for it showcased the fact that the African American race is capable of high work ethic. Dr. Washington presented the loyalty and the humility of the African American people showing that they will work if given the opportunity. The ability to work is what the South needed during the post-Civil War reconstruction era. Dr. Washington sought to take advantage of on these matters by proposing Southern black employment as a substitute. Tuskegee Institute was created for the training of workers in the fields of Agriculture and labor intense training. His stance did provoke the need to grant the opportunity of employment to eight million African Americans rather than giving the jobs to the immigrants coming into America while understanding socially the races had to be separate for the time. Does this mean that Dr. Washington believe blacks were inferior to whites? By no means, Dr. Washington would understand that segregation and racism was anything, but was also nothing short of ignorance. He did not endorse laws that permitted the idea of racism or that allowed poor white men to vote, while preventing a black man in the same state from the same expected …show more content…

Washington’s stance for social separation and economic acceptance with certain restraints. It is easier to ease into change rather than directly change completely. I would have pushed more for social acceptance with less inferior stance for African Americans and also feel that one must start from the bottom and like yeast when making bread, rise to the top. In closing Dr. Booker T. Washington’s stance was made with best intention to advance the African American race. He continued to advance the race by his actions, his university, and his mentorship until his death. For that I say thank you Mr. Booker Taliaferro

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