He thought that Whites could teach Blacks civility and that Blacks needed to demonstrate their responsibility as citizens

Another divisive stance taken by Booker T. Washington was that for black people to become financially independent in the long term, they must initially serve as slaves to white people. He, therefore, thought that physical labor and vocational education represented the apex of professional freedom for African Americans. Additionally, Booker T. Washington thought that white people may act as role models for the black community by showing them how to be "civilized." Despite being divisive, Washington's ideas were widely accepted at the time. Later, when they had already been legally awarded voting rights and civic equality, leaders like W. E. B. Du Bois encouraged the black people to struggle for these rights and to pursue the same "classical" liberal arts education as wealthy whites.

To avoid any significant response from the white population, Washington always favored a "go-slow" strategy when it came to combating black tyranny. According to him, African Americans should "focus all their resources on industrial education, money acquisition, and the reconciling of the South." Since the majority of African Americans at the time resided in the South, Washington placed a great value on industrial training because he thought that these abilities would help the community of African Americans establish the solid foundation that is so much needed to advance. Long-term, he thought, "blacks would finally earn full involvement in society by proving themselves to be responsible, loyal American citizens" through this strategy.