Booker T. Washington Goes West

Finally, Chapter 6, “Mr.Washington Goes West,” examines the two visits by Booker T. Washington, first in 1903, and again in 1914 and investigates whether his national platform was something Black Angelenos wanted for their community, given the relative gains they made during the late 19th century. This chapter also considers the Washington’s relationship with the local leadership while drawing comparisons with Du Bois’s role in early Black Los Angeles history. This chapter also places the black experience in the West within the context of the national experience by considering the relationship of these two African American leaders with Black Angelenos.