Character Analysis: My Son Booker T.

The common school teaches their students math, reading, science, and history, but this predictable curriculum is a newer concept. Many freed slaves did not know the basics of self-preservation, so it was irrational to teach them multiplication prior to hygiene. Booker T. Washington devoted his entire day to teaching "emancipated slaves basic math and reading as well as personal hygiene: how to comb one's hair, bathe regularly, and use a toothbrush." (Goldstein, 2015, p.53) Washington shows that education is not limited to a singular form or subject, however, it ranges from simple life lessons to learning the equation of a line.

Devin Booker was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on October 30, 1996. He was born to Melvin Booker and Veronica Gutierrez. His father, Melvin Booker, was named the 1994 Big Eight player of the year while point guard at the University of Missouri. Booker was in Michigan, while his father was pursuing a professional career overseas. Devin visited his father two months out of the year while he was on summer break. At an early age, Devin was taught by his father that having a basketball IQ was more important than natural athleticism.

Booker T. Washington was born on April 5, 1865. He was born into slavery at the James Burrough’s family plantation in Virginia. Nothing is known about Booker T. Washington’s father beyond the fact that he was a white man. After the Civil War Booker T. Washington worked in a salt furnace and attended school 3 months out of the year. At the age of 17, he was accepted into Hampton Institute in Virginia. When Booker T. Washington graduated from the institute, he then entered the Wayland Seminary. In 1881, Booker T Washington founded the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama. But he did not stop there. He initiated many forms of work and established the National Negro Business League, the National Negro Health

After carefully considering Fuller’s advice, Tom had formally taken a leave of absence for the remainder of the week. As Booker had been due back at work the day he had started his so-called vacation, he had spent each day waiting expectantly for the young officer to make contact. But after enduring an agonizing seventy-two hours pining for the man who now occupied his every thought, he had come to the unwelcome conclusion that the young officer had decided to end their budding friendship, and therefore, whether he liked it or not, he was left to deal with the emotional impact of his rape on his own.

After his confrontation in the bar, Booker 's consciousness shifted to self-reflection, the intensity of his resentment decreasing as his levels of anxiety increased in slow, measured bursts. Tom had not only infected his heart, but he had also infected every fiber of his being, leaving him unprepared as a rising surge of emotion consumed his mind, body, and spirit. The Booker of old would have taken the attractive man back to his apartment and screwed his brains out, but the new and improved Booker had no interest in casual sex. He wanted Tom, not just as a sexual partner, but as a friend and confidant, someone he could share his innermost thoughts with when he needed advice or a sympathetic ear. He didn’t want to spend his life alone, and with the calming effects of the alcohol coursing through his bloodstream, their fight now seemed trivial, a superfluous response born from jealousy and embarrassment. In the heat of the moment he had overreacted, his protectiveness coming to the fore, his need to coddle Tom ultimately pushing him away. It was a foolish mistake and one he knew he might have to live with for the rest of his life if he didn’t make things right. Therefore, he made the decision to ignore his ego, apologize for being a monumental pain in the ass, and beg forgiveness, even if he had to do so on bended knee.

I was exceptional in school and college. The people who thought I wasn’t going to do anything were surprised when I graduated. They always focused on the one story they knew of how the doctors said I wouldn’t be able to walk or talk and how they said I would have a learning disability which I overcame. My mom was scared so I couldn’t really go anywhere as a child because of what I went through from being sick the people that knew my story used it to bring me down. Only my mom and I knew the reason for me being so little.

In the 19th century, many things were changing. During the post reconstruction era, technology and industry became more prevalent, more land was founded for the United States and people fought for civil equality; in particular, the black population. In the later 1800’s, black empowerment was on the rise. As slavery cease to exist and the newly freed slaves were introduced to American Society, many were uncomfortable about how to strive in a world were they were constantly oppressed. Booker T. Washington, an educator at the time, believed the black Americans had to earn their way into society through education and accept minor segregation if it meant in the future, they are fully integrated. W.E.B. DuBois, a scholar, however, believe their rights were unalienable just like others and people of color had to be accepted no matter what. Despite being so similar in the ideas and practices of empowering people of color, Washington’s views of how to empower the black population through hard work into society was more compelling for the time.

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

Booker T. Washington and W. E. B. Du Bois were two of many very influential Black leaders in African American history. These men, though born over a decade a part, shared a common aspiration of obtaining equal rights and sought education for change on the behalf of Blacks. However, the philosophy in which these goals would be achieved differed greatly among the two.

Booker T. Washington’s narrative regarding The Struggle for an Education teaches perseverance in its rawest form. From being turned away from food and shelter to sleeping in the streets. Washington was able to survive the struggle that led to his education and relied on his past experiences to assist him in obligations that allowed him to attend the school that he could barely afford. As explained in Cooper’s The Responsible Administrator: An Approach to Ethics for the Administrative Role, Washington’s journey was systematically centered around the values and principles that were embedded in his choices rather than the practical choices (Cooper 3) that were made during his ordeal. Washington’s journey was duty oriented rather than consequence-oriented.

Clarence Thomas is a complex man who made his way up from a life of poverty in the segregated Deep South to become one of the nine judges of the United States Supreme Court. In his memoir, My Grandfather’s Son, Justice Thomas narrates his journey and honors the one real hero in his life - his grandfather.

Booker T. Washington, in his autobiographical book Up From Slavery, recounts his formative experiences as a child and his work as an adult. Only 9 years old when the Civil War ended, Washington grew up during the Reconstruction Era. With African Americans able to attend school following Emancipation, Washington worked hard to get an education. Race relations of the era and the challenges African Americans faced would come to inspire Washington to pursue teaching and advocacy. He would come to establish the Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute and would play an influential role as a public advocate. Washington held the opinion that African Americans would be best served by pursuing education, economic advancement, and by exercising

In chapter four Booker T. Washington’s first year of college is coming to an end and while everyone is leaving the campus to visit their families Booker T. Washington is stuck at Hampton because he has no income. Wanting to visit his family and other places Booker knew that he had to find a way to fund himself. Booker had a coat that he thought was really valuable, so he decided to sell it for a little money to travel. Only letting a few people know that he had a coat to sell, he waited not letting his classmates and friends know that he had no money. After some time a man became interested in the coat, but did not have the money to buy it, therefore he promised Booker that he would give him the money as soon as he received it. Although disappointed

In 1895, Booker T. Washington delivered his “Atlanta Compromise” address. Washington’s speech was very influential and was almost not allowed to be spoken in front of a mainly White audience. However, it was decided that having a Black speaker would impress the Northerners and prove the South’s racial progress. Washington’s compromise provided the theory of “cast their buckets where they are” for the Blacks. Throughout Washington’s entire address, the use of multiple literary strategies highly influenced the Blacks to stand up for themselves while still remaining inferior to the Whites.

When Booker arrived back at Tom’s apartment, he was surprised to find the young officer still dressed in a pair of boxers, the only addition to his attire, a pale blue blanket draped over his shoulders. The soft woolen rug conveniently hid the scars on his arms, but it somehow added to the helplessness of his already forlorn persona. Upon closer scrutiny, Booker noticed how incredibly tired his friend looked. The overhead light accentuated the black smudges under his eyes, and stress lines creased his forehead, marring his usually smooth complexion. A shiver of guilt ran down the dark-haired officer’s spine. No matter how he tried to rationalize it to himself, he had abandoned Tom in his hour of need. However, he also felt somewhat justified in doing so. But whether Tom would see it that way remained to be seen, all he could do was try to explain his