Glossary
Atlanta Exposition Address
A famous speech delivered by Booker T. Washington in 1895, where he urged Black Americans to focus on economic progress and vocational training, and to temporarily forgo political and social equality.
Example:
The Atlanta Exposition Address is often seen as a pivotal moment, outlining Washington's strategy of accommodation and self-help for Black Americans in the post-Reconstruction South.
Booker T. Washington
A prominent African American educator and leader who advocated for economic self-sufficiency through industrial education as the primary path to racial uplift.
Example:
Booker T. Washington believed that by mastering trades and accumulating wealth, Black Americans could gradually earn respect and equality.
Industrial Education
An educational philosophy championed by Booker T. Washington, focusing on vocational training and practical skills like agriculture, carpentry, and masonry.
Example:
After the Civil War, many formerly enslaved people sought Industrial Education to gain economic independence and build self-sufficient communities.
Talented Tenth
A concept introduced by W.E.B. Du Bois, proposing that the top 10% of African Americans, educated in liberal arts, should lead the fight for civil rights and cultural advancement.
Example:
Du Bois envisioned the Talented Tenth as intellectual leaders who would uplift the entire Black community through their scholarship and advocacy.
W.E.B. Du Bois
An influential African American sociologist, historian, and civil rights activist who argued for immediate civil rights, political activism, and liberal arts education for Black Americans.
Example:
In contrast to Washington, W.E.B. Du Bois insisted that Black Americans should demand their full rights immediately and not postpone political equality.