BDC CH. 3 Flashcards
Booker T. Washington + The Strategy of Accommodation
What did Washington claim in his Atlanta Exposition Address?
- economic cooperation should supersede political conflict
- wanted just treatment from Southern whites in exchange for two concessions
EW
What were the two concessions that Washington made on behalf of African Americans?
- admission Radical Reconstruction was mistake
2. assure blacks didn’t want “social” equality (seen by whites as endorsement for segregation
AA)
What actions did Washington urge African Americans to take?
- stay in South
- concentrate on hard work not protest
- become friends w/ white southerners
(SCB)
What actions did Washington urge southern white people to take?
- regard blacks as economic asset not political threat
- fair treatment of blacks as loyal workers
RF
How did opinions of Washington change going into the 20th century?
- became more negative as race relations got worse not better
- trader to blacks
- blacks made concessions w/ whites giving none back
(BTB)
What was the significance of the Tuskegee Institute?
- staffed/administered entirely by blacks
- most prominent black institution in the world at that point
- founded by Washington (1881)
(SMF)
What was the basis of the Tuskegee Idea + how did it shape Washington’s vision?
TI = instead of focus on higher learning blacks need to acquire basic agricultural skills to succeed in South
- southern whites needed black labor (whether they liked it or not)
- 4/5 of blacks lived in rural areas + were sharecroppers/renters on white land
(SF)
Washington saw blacks becoming land owners/small businessmen on their own one day
Why did Washington tend to downplay white racism?
- felt blacks could use white self-interest to achieve economic equality
- economic progress > social/political to Washington
- if blacks proved to be good workers to whites they would be treated fairly
- prejudice would go away eventually opening door to citizenship/voting rights
(FEIP)
What was the meaning of “industrial education”?
- practical skills in agriculture/trade
- students do manual labor
- teach blacks to earn living in rural South
- gave them no industrial skills
- strict rules/military discipline
(PSTGS)
Why were traditional black universities, unlike Tuskegee/Hampton seen as ill suited to the needs of the black population as a whole?
- stressed higher education
- equipped blacks to be teachers/politicians but no practical skills for masses
- blacks most in need of elementary/individual education
(SEB)
What were some criticisms of the industrial education curriculum?
- made blacks take a subordinate position to whites
- was teaching blacks to stay in line/out of politics
- trained blacks to be just low wage laborers
- drew comparisons to black slave driver
(MWTD)
What did Washington’s black opponents fear about industrial education?
- blacks would continue to receive only most basic schooling
- it would perpetuate their second class citizenship (BI)
Why did whites support the industrial education system that Washington was promoting?
- saw it as putting a ceiling on black achievement
- used to justify dual education standard (superior school for whites + inferior for blacks
SU)
How did Washington defend industrial education?
- the masses needed basic schooling the most anyway
How did whites feel about post Civil War black universities + what was Washington’s response to these criticisms?
- made blacks “overeducated”/lazy
- useless institutions
(MU) - Washington actually supported the hateful remarks
How had the opinions of higher black education vs industrial education changed by 1900?
- whites wanted black higher education extinguished
- blacks felt whites were using industrial education as excuse to close post-war black universities
How did whites respond to higher black education?
- southern whites forced post-war universities to drop certain subjects from curriculum
- philanthropists denied funding to higher education black institutions
- philanthropists pressured black colleges to dilute curriculum + integrate agricultural skills
(SPP)
What was at stake if industrial education prevailed over higher education?
- than no black could reach achievements of a white no matter how gifted
- could see stagnation/regression of race w/o higher educated blacks to lead
(TC)
What was the condition of overall education in the South during the 19th century + why?
- underdeveloped + underfunded (nonexistent in some areas)
(UU) - whites reluctant to spend on public service
- Dems. in charge slashed education spending
(WD)
What was the relevance of the Blair Bill in Congress + what was its result?
- proposed using federal $$$ to subsidize public schools
- would allocate funds to states individually based on illiteracy rate (would benefit South the most)
(PW) - bill never passed
What were the condition of the black private schools/universities?
- only education offered to blacks beyond elementary level
- mostly funded by teachers + parents + fundraising appeals
- many were short lived (didn’t have funding)
What were the condition of the Northern church schools for blacks?
- more stability than the private schools
- were also struggling w/ funding ( Rep. idealism was declining + Southern aid from North decreased
RS)
How did southern whites feel about education for blacks overall?
- very unpopular
- associated it w/ Radical Reconstruction
- did not want any taxes expended on black children
- mostly no taxes at all towards any education (crippled white children also)
Why did some whites favor the total banning of black education?
- said it promoted laziness
- turns blacks to life of crime
- educated blacks could undermine white supremacy
- did not want blacks to be able to compete w/ whites economically
- could pass literacy tests making them eligible to vote
- illiterate blacks made best laborers
(STEDCI)
What were the condition of black public schools in the South by 1895?
- most black kids didn’t attend school
- small # of schools located in churches/shacks w/ little amenities
- poorly educated teachers teaching overpacked classrooms
- real possibility whites could abolish pittance given to black schools
- whites also crippling black private schools
(MSPRW)
How did Washington try to aid in the continuance of black education in the South?
- tried to disassociate black education w/ Radical Reconstruction
- stressed industrial education only gave blacks practical skills + made them better workers
- try to ensure whites blacks wouldn’t use education to gain political/economic power over them
What was the misconception about Tuskegee/industrial education?
- it made blacks only learn to be servants/laborers
- thought it was system to keep blacks down
(IT) - actually provided them w/ many useful skills (reading + “book learning)
- many Tuskegee graduates went on to higher education
How was industrial education seen as killing two birds w/ one stone?
- secured cooperation from whites + provided blacks w/ necessary education
(SP) - allowed whites to believe Tuskegee was inferior institution so they let it stay open
How were black politicians able to make educational opportunities for students in the South in the 1870s/1880s?
- black Republican leaders supported white Democrats
- when they won they repaid black leaders by convincing legislature to fund black schools
What did Washington do once Southern financial support for black schools began to dwindle?
- went North on summer fundraising trips
Where did Northern funding come from to aid black schools in the South?
- Northern industrial capitalists/philanthropists
What was the impact of Northern financial aid for black schools + Washington?
- let him abolish Tuskegee dependence on AL pubic $$$
- made him most influential black educator in the South
IM
Even though they helped fund black education, what were the opinions shared by many of the Northern industrial capitalists?
- regarded Radical Reconstruction as a mistake
- doubted blacks could be as smart as whites
- didn’t see value of higher education for blacks
- did not support black equality movements
- accepted Southern segregation laws
(RDDDA)
What was Washington’s dilemma by accepting money from Northern industrial capitalists?
- poison $$$
- would help fund black education
- but money came from white supremacy supporters
(PWB)
What was the major sign that Washington’s Northern aid failed to improve the education of African Americans in the South?
- widened gap between black/white schools
- black school improvement remained stagnant
How were white vs black public schools similar prior to 1900?
- low public spending put black/white schools around the same poor level
- blacks able to resist race-based tax revenue proposals
- whites thought they’d be subsidizing black schools + blacks weren’t capable of funding them themselves
(LBW)
What was the difference between white vs black public schools following 1900?
- school funding for blacks fell from 34% to 13%
- white teachers received 50% more $$$
SW
What two factors encouraged black discrimination the most in the education system?
- disenfranchisement of black voters + Northern philanthropist policies
(DN)
What policies did the Northern philanthropists take that limited the growth of black education?
- Southern Education Board (SEB) decides to promote white schools but not black
- SEB was scared of southern whites resisting any school funding if the backed black schools
What was the overall result of the 1900s education movement?
- saw millions go to white schools + none go to black
What was the Rosenwald school building program + what was its impact?
- Julius Rosenwald - wealthy Jewish businessman
- convinced by Washington to set up school pilot program (started in Macon County, AL) (1912)
- $$$ from Rosenwald/blacks helped build several school houses
- program helped build thousands of black schools across South even after Washington death
What was the economic status of the majority of black people at this point?
- most black farmers did not own land
- sharecropping decreased black living standards
- blacks barred from many trades/industries
- very small black middle class w/ rest very poor (MSBV)
Why were many of the educational gains made by Washington empty?
- did not help solve the other economic/social issues
Why was Washington’s claim that southern whites were blacks’ best friends wrong?
- Washington belief that equal treatment from whites would come was false hope
- whites had not intention of supporting black economic progress
- whites just wanted cheap black labor
(WWW)
Why were black people most annoyed at Washington?
- false impression that conditions for blacks were improving
What two things damaged black people’s’ confidence most in Washington?
- endorsed education/property requirements for voting
2. failures on lynching issue
EF
How did continued lynchings hurt Washington’s position in the black community?
- contradicted his thought that whites can protect blacks
- he failed to denounce the crime
CH
What was Washington’s response to the burning of Sam Hose in Georgia?
- he kept silent
What did many blacks do in response to a lack of backbone shown by Washington to speak out against racial discrimination?
- began to turn on him
- saw him as a sham/traitor to the race
What was the Niagara Movement + what set it most apart from Washington’s positions?
- racial justice org. led by W.E.B DuBois
- main goal = end of segregation/discriminatory laws (by any means)
- headquartered in North
What effect did the Niagara Movement vs Washington have on the black community?
- put educated blacks up against one another
What was Washington’s view of the men of the Niagara Movement?
- since they reside in North they had little say since they were removed from black majority in South
- they’re too privileged to understand the struggles of blacks
- chronic complainers that didn’t want to work hard
(STC)
What did Washington do instead of trying to cooperate w/ the Niagara Movement?
- used spies/informants
- pulled strings to deny them employment opportunities + philanthropy
- wrote malicious editorials in the newspapers
(UPW)
How did Washington’s actions towards the Niagara Movement/DuBois hurt black progression?
- Washington tried to speak for all blacks
- whites used Washington as “the voice of blacks” to further own racial agendas
What were some of the political actions/beliefs of Washington?
- endorsed disenfranchisement but wanted political influence
- gained ear of President Roosevelt on racial matters
(EG)
What was Washington’s relationship like w/ President Roosevelt?
presidential advisor
- dissuaded Roosevelt from supporting Lily White Republicans
- advised him not to endorse racial segregation
- advised him to give Southern blacks political recognition
(DAA)
How did President Roosevelt respond to the advice given by Washington?
didn’t listen much
- failed to prevent Roosevelt from endorsing even more anti-black positions
- Roosevelt endorsed industrial but not higher education
- Roosevelt endorsed lynching for rape of white women/scolded blacks for high crime rate
(FRR)
What was the Brownsville Affair + its impact?
- Buffalo Soldiers had raided Brownsville (white people killed in raid) (August 15, 1906)
- Roosevelt ordered three whole companies to be dishonorably discharged
- men lost pension rights + any chance at federal employment
- Washington urged Roosevelt to delay decision but didn’t listen
- showed how Roosevelt did not seriously consider Washington’s opinion
(BRMWS)
What was Washington’s response to Roosevelt’s decision of the Brownsville Affair + how did it affect the black community?
- privately critical of Roosevelt’s decision
- would not address it publicly
- caused biggest hate wave towards Washington from blacks
(PWC)
What was Washington’s position on voting + what did Washington fail to see?
- does not take precedent over economic progress
- failed to see black economic inferiority was partly due to not having political rights
DF
What political symbolism did Washington bring to the black community?
- showed blacks could stand near same stage as whites
What did Washington get wrong about the effect of economic change in the US?
- wanted blacks to focus on agriculture in country quickly industrializing
- failed to realize golden age of agriculture was over
- at the time wasn’t bad idea actually was inspirational to blacks
(WIA)
What were the importance of Washington’s stances on morals during this period?
- sought to raise living standards of blacks everywhere
- was very into cleanliness - blacks had very high mortality rate - cleanliness eliminates disease
- led him to support Negro Health Week
(SWL)
How did Washington actually support the black community/defend them from white judgments?
- defended work ethic of blacks
- defended the strength of the black family
- praised black ministers
(DDP)
What forms of separation were accepted by African Americans mostly?
- social life + marriage + church + schools + public accommodations
(SMCSPA)
What were the first two states by 1895 that successfully completely disenfranchised African Americans in the voting process?
- Mississippi + South Carolina
What was the main area of contention when it came to segregation issues in the South?
- public transportation
- blacks hated sitting in filthy back seats
What has been the defense of Washington for not doing more to uplift the black majority from racism?
- Tuskegee/his life could be put in jeopardy if he spoke out against Southern whites
- thought best to keep mouth shut publicly
Why was Washington so against the protest strategy of people like Dubois?
- felt open protest would only anger southern Whites thus making black life harder
What is an example of the cost of protest/militant action seen from high educators in the South?
- William Councill (Huntsville President) - sued Atlanta Railroad for discrimination - forced to resign
How was Washington a product of black powerlessness?
- filled void of leadership when black politicians ran out
- tried to create strategy to alleviate economic struggles of poor southern blacks
- was willing to surrender their political/social freedoms to accomplish his goal
(FTW)
How was the accommodation strategy viewed by many Southern blacks?
- many found it very humiliating
- appeasement to whites was unsettling
- seemed to be acceptance of inferiority
(MAS)
By the time Washington passed, what had replaced him as the speaking voice for the black masses?
NAACP
