Booker T. Washington (1856-1915)

Booker Talisferro Washington (15th April 1856-14th November 1915) was the first African-American (A-A) to dine at the White House.

He was an educator, author, orator and adviser to multiple presidents.

Between 1890 and 1915 he was the dominant leader of the A-A community and the contemporary elite. He was one of the founders of the National Negro Business League. He mobilized a national coalition of middle-class blacks, church leaders and white philanthropists and politicians,

In 1901 his second biographyUp From Slavery became best seller. In October 1901 he was invited by President Theodore Roosevelt to Washington to dine with him and his family at the White House. This was the first highly publicized occasion when an A-A was invited there on equal terms.

His long term goal was to end the disenfranchisement (disappointment) of the vast majority of A-As who lived in the South.

Source
Wikipedia