Yes, that statement is largely true. Booker T. Washington, a prominent African American educator and leader in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, advocated for a philosophy of accommodation and self-help. He believed that African Americans should focus on vocational training, economic self-sufficiency, and gradual social integration, rather than demanding immediate civil rights and political equality.
Washington argued that by proving their economic value and establishing themselves as skilled, educated members of society, African Americans would eventually gain the respect of white Americans and achieve equality. This approach was articulated in his famous speech at the Atlanta Cotton States and International Exposition in 1895, where he emphasized the importance of industrial education and self-improvement.
While Washington’s views were influential, they were also controversial and faced criticism from other African American leaders, such as W.E.B. Du Bois, who argued for immediate civil rights and political representation.