b) Booker T. Washington

Booker T. Washington, chief proponent of the Atlanta Compromise, a prominent African American educator and author, wrote ‘Up from Slavery.’ This autobiography, published in 1901, details his rise from a slave to one of the most influential African American leaders of his time. Washington advocated for racial uplift through education and economic progress, emphasizing vocational training and self-reliance. His approach and views on race relations were influential during the late 19th and early 20th centuries and sparked debate over the strategies for combating racial inequality.