During the progressive era in the late 1800's, white people were in control of society. The blacks had been freed under the Emancipation Proclamation, but were not being treated equal. Mainly because they were black. But that was not the only reason. Blacks were also not treated equally because they did not possess the intelligence and skills of whites. A great man decided to fight for equality between blacks and whites. His name was Booker Taliaferro Washington.
Booker T. Washington was born into slavery on James Burrough's Virginia Plantation in 1856. When he was 9 he was gathered with the other slaves and was told he could go freely due to the Emancipation Proclamation. After he was freed, his mother and him moved to West Virginia where he worked in the coalmines. Then, he decided that he needed to go to college.
Booker T. Washington enrolled at the all-black Hampton University in the early 1870's.
Photograph of Booker Washington and Theodore Roose...
English: "The Oaks", former home of Booker T. Wash...
English: Booker T. Washington's house at TuskegeeHe studied various subjects and earned his diploma. After graduation he taught at various schools and the founder of Hampton University was so impressed with his ability to educate that he made him the organizer and principal of a black trade school. He named it Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute.
While at Tuskegee, Booker T. Washington incorporated the idea of integrating blacks into society by teaching them skills needed to work. While at Tuskegee, blacks could learn such skills as carpentry, welding, fabrication, and agricultural qualities. The school was very popular among black, but also whites. Whites did not enroll, but they did not object to blacks learning trades. Money poured into the institution and Washington was considered the spokesperson for the black people. So much so that he was asked important questions by presidents William Taft and Teddy Roosevelt concerning blacks. He...