Booker T. Washington

John Hatzis

Doctor Jeffrey Cordell

ENG 3020

18 April 2014

Introduction

        Booker T. Washington’s early life was one of great struggle and destitution.  Born a slave, Washington was raised by his mother, in a log cabin.  Washington’s life was filled with hard work, which eventually gave him great success in his life. Utilizing his skills taught to him at his past jobs, he was given the opportunity to attend school when not present at his jobs as a salt packer, coal miner and house servant.   After attending the American Missionary Association and Wayland Seminary, he was hired as the first principal of what later became the Tuskegee Institute (Norton, 2012).  Washington was immensely involved in the success of the Tuskegee Institute, even aiding in the construction of the building (Norton 2012).  Washington used his authoritative position to aid in pushing his Christian virtues and simple, disciplined living among the student body.  Under Washington’s command the institute quickly thrived (Norton, 2012).  Booker T. Washington’s popularity increased following his speech known as the “Atlanta Compromise”.  Numerous supporters of Washington, included whites and blacks across the nation (Norton, 2012).  

        While one would not think an African American boy would grow up to become a man of great influence, that is precisely what happened in the story of Booker T. Washington’s life.  In “Up from Slavery”, Booker T. Washington chronicles his progression from a childhood slave to an ambitious free man in order to show how his past experiences influenced his philosophy and achievements, focused on a pacifying relationship between races and prosperity through hard work, to become the most influential African American of his era.  

Childhood slave to Educator

        Born a slave, Washington’s life began much like thousands of other slaves.  While conditions on the plantation were certainly miserable, Washington noted they were not especially cruel, as compared to most others (Norton, 2012).  Washington stated he never gave thought to the fact he not once devoted time in his youth to play.  Washington was given the position of house boy, which granted him entrance into the masters home.  Here, he recalled creating relationships with the  members of the white family he was required to work for.  While Washington had no school while he was a slave, he remembered walking with one of his young mistresses to carry her books to the schoolhouse door (American National Biography Online Feb. 2000).  There he saw young boys and girls seated and engaged in study (Norton, 2012).  This memory stayed with Washington as later feed his desire for an education.  

        After emancipation was achieved through the achievements of President Abraham Lincoln, Washington desired to attend and complete school.  Washington worked as a custodian to help pay his expenses to attend.  Through hard work Washington was able to become an educator.  General Samuel Chapman Armstrong, principal at Hampton Institute, was influential in Washington’s life.  He taught Washington that “the future of the freemen lay in practical and industrial eduction and the instilling of Christian virtues…”  Armstrong later appointed Washington to lead the night classes at the Institute.  With the introduction of Washington, he chose to focus the learning institutions teachings on training African Americans in skills that would assist them in obtaining jobs rather then demanding equality among the races (American National Biography Online Feb. 2000).  Tuskegee Institute soon became a center for agricultural research.  Washington viewed new ideas in reference to agricultural as an opportunity to raise the economic status of African Americans.  

The “Atlanta Compromise”

        The culmination of Washington’s career came with the presentation of his speech the “Atlanta Compromise”.  His philosophy focused on a pacifying relationship between faces and prosperity thought hard work became the foundation of this speech.  The speech was presented at the Atlanta’s Cotton States and International Exposition, which was held to call attention to the South’s progression since the Civil War.  He stated African Americans should focus their efforts in “agriculture, mechanics, in commerce, in domestic service, and in the professions”, in order to achieve advancement in their new, free life.  Washington’s presentation was so riveting, the audience was brought to its feet with thunderous applause.  He urged fellow Negroes to "cast down your bucket where you are," to stay in the South, gain education, and through hard work win the economic advancement that would gain them the respect of white neighbors.  He also included the white population of the South in his message.  He urged them to recall that African Americans made up one-third of  their population, and both races would have to work together to active prosperity.  A powerful leader took notice following Washington’s presentation of the “Atlanta Compromise”.  Theodore Roosevelt, who had been a friend of Washington’s, frequently consulted Washington on topics involving race and various southern policies.  It was noted that the majority of appointments Roosevelt made were first brought to Tuskegee to be reviewed by Washington.  Following the “Atlanta Compromise”, Booker T. Washington contented to share his philosophies by writing numerous articles and ten books.  Washington’s message attracted many powerful and influential white politicians, by showcasing how his education and hard work created the possibility for these relationships to form, Washington demonstrated his philosophy of integrating the races to achieve success could work.