Title: Up From Slavery Author: Booker T. Washington (1856 - 1915) Genre: Autobiography Originally published: 1901; Copy read published: 1995 Format: Paperback; 157 pages
This the life story of a remarkable American born a slave and his amazingly focused journey from extreme poverty to president of the Tuskegee Institute. This was a man that recognized his calling in life and pursued it 24/7, year after year. He helped thousands along the way, especially young blacks hungry for a better life. He and they saw education as the path to this better life. He grew Tuskegee from a stable and a hen house to 40 buildings valued at $500,000 (over $12 million in 2015 dollars) with no debt by 1898. In addition to their studies, the students built 36 of these buildings and grew their own food on the school farms. They made the bricks from scratch! His hard work did not go unnoticed. He become the most influential spokesman for black Americans in his day. Frederick Douglass at died in 1895. His story includes slices of history such as the reconstruction period, 1890’s America, letters from presidents Cleveland and McKinley, and even a little European insight when his friends insisted on, and paid for, his first vacation ever. A trip to travel Europe with his wife. He secured a visit to Tuskegee from president McKinley in 1898. Washington was a prime speaker at the Atlanta Cotton States and International Exposition in 1895 at what is now Piedmont Park, receiving nationwide praise. He had been asked to represent the “Negro race”. You can also benefit from his stories of countless fundraising and public speaking. They are virtually a tutorial to be learned from. All in all this is an inspirational story. As you read it you may think to yourself why haven’t done more with my life given all the hard work, overcoming hurdles, and ultimate accomplishment of Mr. Washington. I highly recommend you read this book. Then a few years later, read it again. Share it with your children.
Yours in liberty, Thomas Freese