Booker T. Washington

Early Life and Education

Booker Taliaferro Washington was an American educator and author who was considered a leader of the African American community. He was born into slavery in Virginia and was emancipated after the Civil War. Following the conclusion of the civil war, Booker T. Washington moved with his family to West Virginia where he worked in salt furnaces and coal mines.

Despite his financial status, he was determined to obtain an education and enrolled at the Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute in Virginia where he graduated with honors in 1875.

Founding of the Tuskegee Institute

Washington founded the Tuskegee Institute (now Tuskegee University) in Alabama in 1881 where he taught practical real-world skills such as agriculture, carpentry, and mechanics to his students. He established a network of donors who helped fund thousands of schools and colleges for black students across the South.

Advocacy for Education and Self-Reliance

Washington went on to become one of the most influential figures in the post-Reconstruction era and advocated for the economic and social advancement of black Americans through education and self-reliance.

The Atlanta Compromise Speech

Booker T. Washington delivered his most famous speech at the Cotton States and International Exposition in Atlanta in 1895 where he spoke about racial uplift. His address, known famously as the “Atlanta Compromise,” argued for black progress through education and entrepreneurship rather than immediate civil rights. He urged his fellow African Americans to temporarily accept segregation and focus on building a strong economic base.

Recognition and Legacy

Washington was widely respected by the black and white communities as well as world leaders. He was once invited to the White House by Theodore Roosevelt. He was also the first African American to appear on a U.S. postage stamp.

Criticism and Decline

Washington faced his fair share of criticism from his contemporaries who accused him of accommodating white supremacy and neglecting the civil and political rights of black people. His influence gradually declined in the early 20th century, and he passed away in 1915 at the age of 59.