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Booker T. Washington: An Analysis

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The early beginnings of the book give a preview of his childhood growing up a slave before the emancipation proclamation set his family free. Washington comments how even without education, slaves still kept up on recent news of the country. They whispered among each other it was like a “grape-vine.” Even with the odds against them, slaves found a way to be as informed as they can. Washington notes, his life had little play in was inhibited by some form of way such as,”in cleaning the yards, carrying water to the men in the fields, or going to the mill, to which I used to take the corn, once a week, to be ground” (Washington 6). Even in a shabby log cabin in pennsylvania, it is prevalent that Booker T thirsts for education. This becomes extremely …show more content…

Now that more doors of opportunity had opened Washinton still persisted on education. While he worked in the coal mines which he mentions he has never seen such “darkness as [he did] in a coal mine” (37). He even took night classes while hunting down tutors. His perseverance is aspiring, he could have remained in the coal mines, but he kept moving forward. One of the quotes as reader that stood out to me was, “In later years, I confess that I do not envy the white boy as I once did. I have learned that success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed” (42). Washington views that shape him as leader are growing! He is quick to stop blaming others for every wrong situation in his life as he cries the victim. His words are strong in no doubt does he want to convey this message to the the people who are willing to listen to him. His experience in Hampton which was a well know school also aided him is message of importance of education. The theme of role models is presented, Mrs. Ruffen who encouraged him when it comes to good work ethic. Also General Armstrong who Booker T describes as a “selfless man” that even offered him a job as a teacher even encouraged him to be a leader of Tuskegee. Booker T Washington proves,"There is no education which one can get from books and costly apparatus that is equal to that which can be gotten from …show more content…

However because most are ignorant as well as illiterate, they end with no experience being to under qualified. Booker T vows to pursue further in education because it the very foundation that will grant you that edge you need. Washington himself thought of getting involved in politic due to his growing reputation in washington D.C. as a great speaker while he was studying there and taking a Malden. However he decided to stay in education because, [he] believed that [he] could find other service which would prove of more permanent value to [his] race. Even then I had a strong feeling that what our people most needed was to get a foundation in education, industry, and property, and for this [he] felt that they could better afford to strive than for political preferment” (98). Washington has always felt a great moral duty to give back to his race any way he possibly can. His passion for leading his struggling brothers and sisters empowers him to try to continue to make a change. The chains of slavery may have gone but many blacks are still crippled because of it. Washington realizes this harsh reality from even early in his life. One of the biggest things is the “rags to riches” factor that plays a lot in this book. Washington gives many instances in his life where he started with nothing but was able to rise to the occasion. On one event, Washington was asked by

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