Who founded Tuskegee Institute in Alabama to train black teachers?

• A. W.E.B. Du Bois
• B. George Washington Carver
• C. Booker T. Washington
• D. Frederick Douglass

Answer: (C)

Tuskegee Institute, now known as Tuskegee University, was founded by Booker T. Washington in 1881. Washington was a prominent African American educator and leader who advocated for vocational education as a means for African Americans to achieve economic independence and success. He believed that by acquiring practical skills, individuals could gain respect and rise in society. Tuskegee Institute was specifically established to provide training for black teachers and equip them with the skills necessary to educate future generations.

Washington's philosophy emphasized self-help and entrepreneurship, which was reflected in the curriculum at Tuskegee. His vision contributed significantly to the education and professional development of African Americans in the post-Reconstruction era, making the institution an essential part of the African American education movement.

In contrast, W.E.B. Du Bois was a contemporary of Washington but had differing views, advocating for higher education and the immediate pursuit of civil rights rather than vocational training. George Washington Carver, while an important figure in agricultural science and education at Tuskegee, was not the founder of the institute. Frederick Douglass was a renowned abolitionist and orator who focused on social justice and civil rights but was not directly involved in the founding of educational institutions like Tuskegee. These distinctions highlight why Booker T