Washington'a Position

Booker T. Washington's address in support of African Americans is cleared up and further explained after public confusion from the last issue of The Planet.

Our observations relative to Dr. Booker T. Washington in our last issue have enabled us to clear up some of the notions relative to important public questions. It is now stated that he has never advised the Negro to keep wholly out of politics. He has advised him and now advises him not to devote himself wholly or largely to political agitation, to securing office and the rest of it to the exclusion of getting education and economic and religious development. He did claim that for nearly twenty years after the Negro became free that he gave too much attention to politics and neglected the more fundamental considerations of life. It is claimed for him that he now believes that the Negro would gain more in all directions by laying the foundation in the direction indicated first than by building a house in political directions without a foundation. It is further claimed that Dr. Washington does believe that everyone, black or white, has a right to vote and to take a reasonable interest in the selection of the best men to fill office, but when one makes a profession of politics, especially when he is poor, it becomes bad business.
It it further alleged that Dr. Washington had advocated and does now advocate, that it is a mistake for any race of people to put themselves in opposition to the masses of the people by whom they are surrounded very much as the Negro did immediately after he became free. Wherever it is possible and whenever he can do so in a straightforward honorable manner, that the Negro should identify his political interests with the people by whose side he lives. It is admitted that in many cases, it may not be possible or practical to do this, but this should be the end to be kept in view.
In some particulars, this is new light on the Dr. Booker T. Washington position. It possesses many election moments of “horse-sense” and practical politics as viewed from a white man’s standpoint and from a black man’s view-point as well. It may be that we shall have something more to say upon this all important subject. Dr. Washington is a marvel of shrewdness and sound judgement. He is a born diplomat, and would take high rank among the remarkable characters of any country.
When we agree with his assertions we shall say so and when he sounds a discordant note, viewed from a radical standpoint, we shall be equally forward in expressing an opinion upon the all-important standpoint. It may be well to state too, that it is claimed that the Washington Post was in error in many of its statements concerning this distinguished educator.

“Washington'a Position,” Black Virginia: The Richmond Planet, 1894-1909, accessed May 12, 2025, https://blackvirginia.richmond.edu/items/show/504.