He was an American educator, author, orator and advisor to presidentsof the United States.
He was from the last generation of black American leaders born into slavery and became the leading voice of the former slaves and their descendants.
Washington gave a speech known as the "Atlanta compromise" which brought him fame.
He mobilized a nationwide coalition of middle-class blacks, church leaers, and white and white philanthorpists and politicians, with a long term-goal of building community's enomic strength and pride by a focus on self-help and schooling. But, secretly, he supported court challanges to segregation and passed on funds raised for this purpose.
He mastered the nuances of the political arena in the late 19th century, which enabled him to manipulate the media, raise money, strategize, reward friends and distribute funds while punishing those who opposed for uplifting blacks.
