What was the approach of Booker T. Washington towards racial equality?

Booker T. Washington's approach towards racial equality centered on the belief that African Americans should focus on vocational training and economic self-help as a means to achieve progress in society. He argued that by acquiring skills and education in trades, African Americans would gain economic independence and respect from white society. This perspective was articulated in his famous Atlanta Compromise speech, where he suggested that while social equality and civil rights were important goals, they should be secondary to the immediate need for African Americans to uplift themselves economically.

Washington believed that gradual progress would ultimately lead to improved social conditions and acceptance from the white population, contrasting with more immediate political activism. This pragmatic approach resonated with many African Americans during a time when civil rights were severely restricted, emphasizing self-help, hard work, and patient racial uplift as the path to equality.