Booker T. Washington <Tab/>Booker T. Washington was the most influential black leader and educator of his time. He became well-known largely because of his role as founder and head of Tuskegee Institute, a school for blacks in Tuskegee, Alabama. He influenced the meeting of several blacks to federal office. Washington described his rise from slavery to national fame as an educator in his autobiography, Up from Slavery in 1901. <…showed first 75 words of 474 total…

…showed last 75 words of 474 total…difficult for differing views to be published. By 1910, Washington's influence had started to decline as Du Bois and others began new movements. These movements led to the creation of such organizations as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the National Urban League. Washington died on Nov. 14, 1915. When he died, the Tuskegee Institute had more than 1,500 students attending the school. In 1945, Washington was elected to the Hall of Fame for Great Americans.