Jackson advocate., 1962-04-14
Was Booker T. WASHINGTON
Right After All?

We have, on several occasions during the past
Iew years. presented in this paper the full text of
tne famous address delivered by Booker T. Wash
lngton, the founder of Tuskegee Institute at the
Atlanta Cotton Exposition, which contained both
his philosophy of education and race relations hop
ing that it would awaken again the thinking of
Negro leaders to his true aim and purpose
We were happy therefore to see from up in
Chicago, an editorial inethe New Crusader militant
Chlcago weekly, from the pen of Dan Burley, one
OF the natons most able Journalist, and students of
Negro history under the heading "WAS BOOKER
1. WASHINGTON RIGHT AFTER ALL?"
The following is what Mr. Burley had to saw:
In these crucial years in which the American
Negro IS at crossroad in his continuing search for
totai freedom; and in period, nevertheless where
III ms mooern generation of young and wom-
en- have apparently educated themselves "out" of
Doth knowledge and ties with the black mans
slave past the name of Booker T. WASHINGTON
sage OF Tuskegee, and who in his day was the
most powerful and celebrated Negro leader of them
all, perhaps registers little in reaction or recopni-
ton when picked out of basket containing the
names OF Chubby Checker, Jackie Wilson, Ray
Charles, Wilt the Silt Chamberlain, Willie Mavs
Ernie Banks, Adam Clayton Powell and other con-
temporary heroes of today
For we are at that stage las are the whites)
wnen our youth show impatience with Yesterday.
preferrlng to deal strictly with the present Few
can talk inteligenty of most brilliant leaders and
personages OF the past Indeed, there are around
large numbers who would have difficulty in know
ing much if anything about Joe Louis!
But Booker T. Washington once advised the
newly freed Negroes that "the opportunity to earn
dollar In factory is just now worth Infinitely
more than the opportunity to spend dollar in an
opera house" This and like observations plus the
reality OF Tuskegee Institute as an industrial school
TO teach Negro youngsters to use their hands in
becoming craftsmen mechanics, etc. brought about
the head-on collision of the Washington program to
make Negroes self sufficient with flourishing
economy OF their own with liberals led bv famed
scholar DR.. W. E. B. Dubois.
The Dubois contention was that the future of
the race would best be served through higher edu-
cation OF Talented Tenth" and that Industrial
education was not sufficient; he and DR.. John Hone
contended that failure of the system to provide
training OF Negroes for political social and cultural
leadership for the races most enlightened youth
would establish the race as permanent servants of
the whites.
That Dr.. Washington held the kew to the fu-
ture economic stability of the Negro is undeniable
1t is mrrored in today's general chaotic condition
OF the race which does not have much of a reser-
voir OF skilled craftsmen electricians. mechanics
brick masons, plasterers, machinists Qlaziers cob
Dlers, ETC. to fill jobs not now being performed by
aptomation.
For except during the war years of 1920.
1941-46, and during the Korean War when millions
OF unskilled Negroes were pressed into the labor
force operating war industries air plane factories
and the like majority Of those who went to school
were more interested in the arts than in the sci
ences They were more dazzled by the glamour
OF the teaching, social science music. physical edl
cation. legal and -