The Contribution of Booker T. Washington During The Progressive Era

During the Progressive Era, many from the African American community were faced with social, political, and economic problems, mainly due to racism and a lack of equal treatment being enforced by the law. This was most prevalent in the South, though the North did have its share of problems due to racial prejudices. Some successful members of the black community spoke out against these conditions and proposed their own solutions. One such person was Booker T. Washington, a well known educator, author, and political figure who was a popular speaker among both white and black audiences. His widespread appeal gave him the opportunity to express his views about the plights of the black population to a wide audience. Washington's speech at the Atlanta Exposition of 1895 (Wheeler, pg 42) showcases his thoughts of the best ways for the black community to gain acceptance among a white population.

Washington advocated blacks and whites working together towards the common good. As an example, he told a story about a ship lost at sea asking the first vessel they come across for water. The vessel tells the lost ship to cast down a bucket. The ships go through the same request and answer several times before the lost vessel casts down a bucket. The bucket is pulled up full of fresh water. This story is used as a lead-in in telling both whites and blacks to "cast down your buckets" in friendship and in the professions. People from both races would need to be willing to help each other. The story also seems to say that those asking for help have better results when they also help themselves. Washington states that blacks and whites could work together in the public sector towards mutual progress but still could be separate socially. Because segregation was rampant during this time in the South, this idea probably would have been easily accepted with the mindset of the time. He believed if it was realized blacks worked hard and contributed to society, then there wouldn't be cause to ostracize blacks.

An issue Washington felt was a major problem in the black community, was that many wanted to start at the top in the occupations after slavery. He felt it was better to learn there was dignity in working the common occupations first. Through hard work, people could rise in the ranks. Today, this practice would make it less likely for people to feel resentment towards those in high positions because of the job position being earned. During the time frame of the late 1800s, many people would probably still view a black person as being undeserving of a high position no matter how much he earned his place.

Washington's solutions reflected the Progressive Era philosophy that each person has the ability to better the world if given the chance. One problem is that the racist attitudes of people didn't extend this view towards those of different backgrounds that they saw as inferior. The reformers in government concentrated primarily on issues of politics and institutions while ignoring issues affecting those of other races and ethnic groups. For Washington's solutions to work, he would have needed the support and willingness of a majority with an open mind and a willingness to change their preconceived notions about people of other races.

Not all blacks shared Washington's views on the best ways to be accepted as equals in American society. Whereas, Washington's solutions would come about through peaceful actions and hard work to prove that blacks were just as good as whites, others advocated militant action and strikes to demand equal treatment. While their plans on how to accomplish this differed, they shared the same ultimate goal. Instead of fighting for equal treatment in a white society, some blacks supported emigration to Africa or the establishment of all black communities in America. Even though it took many more years for segregation to be outlawed in the South, the work of activists during the Progressive Era helped in slowly changing peoples' attitudes to make this possible.