Booker T. Washington

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Booker T. Washington

Booker Taliaferro Washington (April 5, 1856 – November 14, 1915) was an American educator, author, orator, and advisor to multiple presidents of the United States. He was a dominant leader in the African American community and of the contemporary black elite. Washington was from the last generation of black American leaders born into slavery and became the leading voice of the former slaves and their descendants.

Early Life

Washington was born into slavery on the Burroughs Plantation in Hale's Ford, Virginia. His mother, Jane, was an enslaved African American woman, and his father was a white man from a nearby plantation. After the American Civil War, Washington and his family gained their freedom under the Emancipation Proclamation.

Education

Washington worked in salt furnaces and coal mines in West Virginia before attending the Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute (now Hampton University) in Hampton, Virginia. He later attended Wayland Seminary in Washington, D.C.

Career

In 1881, Washington was recommended by Samuel C. Armstrong, the principal of Hampton Institute, to become the first leader of the new Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute (now Tuskegee University) in Tuskegee, Alabama. Under his leadership, Tuskegee became a leading school in the country, emphasizing vocational and industrial training.

Philosophy and Views

Washington's philosophy of self-help, racial solidarity, and accommodation was expressed in his famous Atlanta Compromise speech in 1895. He urged blacks to accept discrimination for the time being and concentrate on elevating themselves through hard work and material prosperity. He believed that this would win the respect of whites and lead to African Americans being fully accepted as citizens and integrated into all strata of society.

Writings and Speeches

Washington was a prolific writer and speaker. His autobiography, Up from Slavery, published in 1901, is still widely read today. He also wrote other books, including The Future of the American Negro and My Larger Education.

Legacy

Washington's legacy is complex and has been the subject of considerable debate. He was criticized by some African American leaders, such as W.E.B. Du Bois, for being too accommodating to white interests. However, his contributions to education and his efforts to improve the lives of African Americans are undeniable.

Death

Washington died on November 14, 1915, at the age of 59, at the Tuskegee Institute. He was buried on the campus near the chapel.

Related Pages

• Tuskegee University
• Hampton University
• W.E.B. Du Bois
• Atlanta Compromise
• Up from Slavery

See Also

• African American history
• Civil rights movement
• Emancipation Proclamation