Which individual is best known for advocating for African Americans’ economic self-help and vocational training?

Booker T. Washington is best known for promoting the idea of economic self-help and vocational training for African Americans, especially during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He founded the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama, which focused on practical education that equipped students with the skills necessary for employment in agriculture, trades, and industries. Washington believed that through vocational education, African Americans could attain economic independence and gradually earn social respect from the wider white society.

His philosophy emphasized patience and incremental progress, advocating for an approach where African Americans would improve their economic conditions first, which he thought would lay the groundwork for civil rights and social equality in the future. This stance was a significant factor in his influence and leadership within the African American community during his time.