The fact that Douglass (1818-1895), Du Bois (1868-1963), and Washington (1856-1915) are still read and their philosophies studied today speaks to the content of their character.
How did each man's character contribute to his destiny?
How did each man's character connect to the Civil Rights Movement?
(You will likely have to do a little research on Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" speech in order to answer these questions thoughtfully.)