Which social theory did Booker T. Washington promote regarding the advancement of African Americans?

Booker T. Washington promoted the theory of individual self-improvement as a means for African Americans to achieve advancement in society. He believed that by focusing on education, vocational training, and economic self-sufficiency, African Americans could gradually improve their social standing and gain the respect of white Americans. Washington argued that through hard work and personal development, African Americans would earn the opportunity for better rights and integration into mainstream American society. This approach emphasized patience and a step-by-step pathway to progress rather than immediate demands for civil rights or political representation, which characterized other movements of the time.