The famous African American educator who founded a well-known institution for higher education is Booker T. Washington. He established the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama in 1881, focusing on industrial education for African Americans. Washington's approach emphasized the importance of vocational training, equipping students with practical skills to improve their economic situation. His philosophy of self-help and gradual integration into society through education provided a foundation for future educational reforms and influenced the trajectory of African American education in the United States.