Washington's view was that blacks couldn't indefinitely rely on the whims of whites, either to protect them or to ensure their economic stability. Through education---especially farming and technical education---he thought blacks could become self-sufficient until white society accepted them.
I agree with Washington and thought he had an interesting selection. Ex-slaves and their immediate relations would know something about farming and machinery, esp.farming so there was a base already. I'll have to give this thread a read through. That was an interesting newspaper you posted btw. Have you ever read Black Conservative by George Schuyler? Good stuff.