During the Progressive Era, Booker T. Washington and Ida B. Wells were two prominent African American leaders who made significant contributions. Booker T. Washington was the founder of Tuskegee Institute, an educational institution dedicated to providing vocational training for African Americans. His "Atlanta Compromise" speech in 1895 called for gradual economic and social advancement through education and self-help rather than immediate political action. Similarly, Ida B. Wells was a prominent journalist and civil rights activist who fought against racial violence and advocated for the rights of African Americans, especially in regards to lynching. Her investigative reporting on lynching incidents shed light on the brutalities faced by African Americans and pushed for legislative and societal changes. Both Washington and Wells played crucial roles in advancing the rights and opportunities for African Americans during a time of intense racial discrimination.
