Help, I don't get this at all!?

Question

Ok, i feel really dumb. I am trying to do a report on Booker T. Washington and we are supposed to use the internet and books for our information. I was reading on http://northbysouth.kenyon.edu/1998/edu/home/btw.htm and i got to a paragraph i don't get at all could somone help me out? Here it is "Booker T. Washington stands out in American History as a school book black hero. Some have even gone as far as to label Booker T. Washington a token ***** in the company of white heroes. This is because of his acceptance of segregation, his outward humility, and his opposition to black militancy, even more than because of his constructive achievements as an educator and race leader. His critics argue that his methods were too compromising and unheroic to be placed in the forefront as the spokesperson for black progress."

Answer 1

Yeah, I understand why you are confused. I am going to give you a nice, quick black history lesson. OK, there were two men prevalent at this time. You have Booker T. Washington on one side and W.E.B. DuBois on the other (feel free to research him also). Both desired to lead the African American community in their plight against racism and for equality, but they disagreed on the HOW!
DuBois pushed for blacks to be educated to the highest levels just as whites were allowed (college education) and use their minds as tools to progress and become equal to their white counterparts. However, to Washington, this was too militant a view point because there was substantial resistance to blacks getting an education! Can you believe that? And he did not think it was the most "diplomatic" or "nice" way to obtain equality. He instead believed that blacks could make a better life for themselves by learning a trade or a vocational job. This meant to learn how to become a cook, farmer, etc., which were menial jobs (jobs where you must work with your hands). Well, this did not go over well to DuBois because he believed Washington was keeping blacks down the traditional servant roles.

To this very day, black leaders are divided on whose viewpoint was better. Think Malcolm X (militant) and Martin Luther King, Jr (wanted to keep the peace).