Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois were leaders of the black people and both of them wanted to help black people to achieve economic and social progress. However, their approaches to this problem were radically different. Washington agitated black people to help themselves: “…progress in the enjoyment of all the priviliges that will come to us must be the result of severe and constant struggle…” (Hine, Hine & Harrold, 2011). He believed that being patient will help African Americans to gain respect of white people. Du Bois, on the other hand, thought that such strategy would only help to make the oppression even stronger (PBS). The situation could be changed with the influence of educated black people. The approach of Du Bois was more appropriate, because he was born free (Hine, Hine & Harrold) and knew what qualities a person had to posses to become successful, and as a result, his approach worked better.
Many African Americans wanted to move to the North, because they saw some economic opportunities there. Theodore Roosevelt gave black men who supported him at the elections federal jobs; there were organized many clubs by black women, who promoted the education between African Americans (Hine, Hine & Harrold, 2011). Arts helped black people to become more educated and enlightened.
Black women helped to promote the health care system, they cared about older people and orphans, and there were established homes for delinquent people. They issued the magazine Women’s Era, which contained articles about family life and health, and they also promoted education among black people (Hine, Hine & Harrold, 2011). The race leaders of the era were Mary Church Terrell (she spoke against the racial segregation), Booker T. Washington (black people had to gain the respect of whites), and W.E.B. Du Bois (believed that the education was that main strength that could help black people to achieve progress). All these people tried to do everything possible to make the life of African Americans better.