Booker T. Washington (1856 – 1915) was born a slave but would later become one of the most influential black men in United States history. Washington advocated peaceful protest and believed violence would hurt the chance for African-Americans to secure civil rights. W.E.B. Du Bois, another famous writer and civil rights activist in the early 20th century, believed in stronger protests. Though both men went about things different ways they both are still well read today and recognized for helping African-Americans get civil rights.