Which famous African American leader advocated for vocational education?

• A. W.E.B. Du Bois
• B. Booker T. Washington
• C. Martin Luther King Jr.
• D. Marcus Garvey

Answer: (B)

Booker T. Washington is the correct answer because he was a prominent advocate for vocational education and believed in the importance of practical skills for African Americans in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Washington’s philosophy emphasized the need for Black individuals to gain industrial and agricultural skills that would allow them to improve their economic status and become self-sufficient. He founded the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama, where he implemented programs that focused on vocational training, helping students acquire skills in trades such as carpentry, farming, and sewing.

His approach differed from other leaders of his time, such as W.E.B. Du Bois, who advocated for a classical education and immediate civil rights activism. Martin Luther King Jr. focused primarily on civil rights and social justice through nonviolent protest, while Marcus Garvey emphasized Black nationalism and economic independence in a broader international context. Washington’s emphasis on vocational education created opportunities for many African Americans and shaped educational policies during his era.