Describe the contribution made by Booker T. Washington in the struggle for Civil Rights in the USA

It has been highly debated whether Booker T Washington’s contribution had a positive or negative effect in the struggle for black civil rights. Many people believed that Booker T boosted morale and raised the blacks profile at the time where they needed it most, but on the other hand he was often viewed as an ‘Uncle Tom’, who worked his way up by being submissive towards powerful whites.

Booker’s roots are interesting; from an onlooker his image is formed as being a courageous character that has come through the most challenging of tests. Washington like any other ordinary black started at the lowest point - slavery on a plantation, the fact that he achieved what he did from where he started life out would have given blacks much hope and the message that goals are achievable for blacks. Booker T’s ambition was to study at Hampton Institute in Virginia, his ambitions were an inspiration to blacks and his motivation to achieve this target rang bells around black communities. Washington took the path of a vocational education, he also established a new school called Tuskegee and encouraged blacks to take the same route, he thought that it was the best way for blacks 2 further themselves economically and give blacks an alternative to labour work. He hoped that this training would open them up for skilled manual jobs and boosting their income and slowing raising black profile. His reputation grew further and Washington was almost perceived by the whites as the minister for blacks and did in fact carry this duty out as he strived for equality and voiced the black communities concerns to the President. Washington kept on raising the bar for what Blacks could achieve and he continued to accomplish milestone after milestone what no other blacks had ever done, his speech at the Atlanta World Fair was regarded as one his most famous speeches, he was heckled by many southern whites but inspired many blacks watching and made some white sit up and take notice of the issues concerning the racial divide.

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One of the reasons why some blacks disliked him was that he thought equality would be achieved by slow progress and his wasn’t enough as they were concerned however southern whites thought that Washington sought too much progress so he did have the awkward task of striking the equilibrium. Washington didn’t believe in violence but instead peaceful means of achieving his aims and this meant little to thousands of blacks that had been oppressed for hundreds of years and were fuelled with anger and frustration. Washington was always trying to help fellow blacks filtering through the system and he set up the National Negro Business League, which contributed towards black enterprises helping them economically. People were divided on his view of segregation, some blacks thought it was acceptable to be segregated as they didn’t want to mix with whites but other felt that any kind of segregation contributed to the perpetuation of racial inequality. Washington was lucky in a sense to pull off what he had, many blacks took the view that he was an ‘Uncle Tom’ who was submissive to whites and that was the only reason he was where he was. They had a case, in the respect that he was given financial assistance by wealthy whites and invited for meals with the President. Washington was highly regarded by Presidents Theodore Roosevelt and William Taft who used him as their adviser on African – American issues. Taft attracted a lot of criticism from southerners for inviting Washington to eat with him at the White House. Washington achieved little from the Presidents as he failed them to publicly condemn lynching as being worse than rape by a black man on white women. The president had to take note of Washington as he was ever becoming an international figure, he was asked to lunch with Queen Victoria which would have raised blacks profile across the world and he would have been a role model for many blacks in the US. At last blacks had something to aspire to after years of slavery and prejudice. Most people knew that this wouldn’t change overnight but it felt like they had attained the first steps to the long road of equality. Many blacks were despondent that Washington was not making any fast progress in a double blow struck Washington’s campaign as many black political appointments were cut and the first southern President was elected [Woodrow Wilson], he wanted nothing to do with Washington and this would have discouraged blacks, having an overall negative effect on the black commune. Blacks were also despondent that there was a lack of unity between Washington and W.E.B Du Bois, and that unorganised campaigns would send mixed messages to the President of what blacks actually wanted. There was a divide peoples opinions Du Bois passionate articles suited the more revolutionary blacks who wanted quick reform, but Washington had the backing of the blacks who felt that a more gradualist approach was the key to equality. It was their differentiating backgrounds that moulded their tactics Du Bois was born in the North a free man where as Washington had to go through more racism in the South and formed the view that whites would not accept quick change. Washington black critics felt he was happy to take grants of wealthy white men for his educational establishment than in supporting the case of civil rights. Du Bois more radical approach led to more supporters, his involvement in setting up the NAACP nudged Washington out of the spotlight to become the blacks leading campaigner.

In conclusion it seems that Washington’s downfall was his failure to persuade Presidents to express disapproval of lynching that alone cost him badly, along with some other factors. Although it is fair to say that Washington was the key figure in setting the ball rolling for the black struggle. He opened the door for thousands for students by setting up his black school and gave many blacks the chances he received. His aim was to help blacks achieve skilled qualifications so they could earn more money. His slow approach to issues could have been one of the primary reasons why he lost support many blacks wanted a rapid social change and were fed up of the prejudice and unequal facilities.

By Daniel Christey