Who worked toward Progressive reforms by leading the Tuskegee Institute and encouraging African Americans to learn trades and become economically independent?

Booker T. Washington was a key figure in advocating for Progressive reforms through his leadership at the Tuskegee Institute. He emphasized the importance of vocational education, encouraging African Americans to acquire trades and skills that would promote economic independence and self-sufficiency. Washington believed that by achieving economic stability, African Americans could gradually gain social and political rights. His approach focused on practical education and self-help as a means to uplift the African American community.