thinker claimed this week, stirring up racial animosity is an approach washington shunned and perhaps mrs. obama's critics should read more deeply into washington's ideology. born into slavery and rose to such prominence as an educator and thought leader that u.s. presidents sought his advice was an advocate of self-help as the key to advancement for formerly enslaved people. believed they could earn gradually by dedicating to vocational education and proving their value and usefulness to their country. in that regard michelle obama, the december senscendent of enslaved people, opened the doors of opportunity to their children is the em bodiment of washington's vision but the years of hard fought civil rights battle that paved the way for obama family's occupation of the white house stand in defiance mean