Your views on Booker T. Washington? And have they changed since the Rate This HBCU series?

[get these nets]

When @DrBanneker completed the series, I said it would change the nature of discussions here centered on Black education. We are much better informed about the backstories of these schools and the people behind them.

How did you view Booker T. Washington previously, and has that changed at all?

 

[skylove4]

They were both smarter men than I am but I definitely agree with Du Bois more. I think both had good ideas but Washington thinking black people proving ourself self-sufficient or contributing to society would win the respect of white people just seems crazy a man of such intellect would even entertain this. I appreciate them both.

 

[Adeptus Astartes]

Washington was the grandaddy of respectability politics, but I do agree that group economics is a good practice.

 

[DrBanneker]

Booker T. Washington literally had a direct or indirect part in educating a large swath of the Black population during his time which flows to us today. His views on politics may look antiquated today, and were probably erring too much on the non-confrontational side, but the way he worked behind the scenes to get HBCUs and local Black schools (Rosenwald Schools) funded is a feat and deserves acclaim. The fact he actually did stuff puts him head and shoulders over imitators who just want to complain about the state of Black America and do nothing.

Respectability politics may not have been a viable long term strategy but the educated people from his efforts kick started the Civil Rights movement a generation later.