Who is associated with the idea of vocational training for African Americans and promoted the concept of second class citizenship?

Booker T. Washington is closely associated with the idea of vocational training for African Americans, advocating for an education focused on practical skills that would enable individuals to achieve economic stability and self-sufficiency. He believed that by gaining vocational skills, African Americans could earn respect and gradually improve their social standing within a racially divided society.

Washington promoted a philosophy of accommodation, suggesting that African Americans should accept their status as second-class citizens for the time being and focus on self-improvement and economic advancement. This was a stark contrast to more assertive approaches, which argued for immediate civil rights and equality.

His establishment of the Tuskegee Institute was a significant step in promoting vocational education, where students were trained in various trades. This approach was both celebrated and critiqued, as it emphasized economic progress over political rights, thereby contributing to the ongoing debate about the best path toward equality for African Americans during that period.