By: Andrés Rojas

The American Civil War

April 12, 1861 – May 9, 1865

Booker Taliaferro

Washington was an African-American educator, author, orator, and advisor. He was the dominant leader in the African-American community in the United States from 1890 to 1915.

Booker T. Washington

(April 5, 1856 – November 14, 1915)

“I do not know the month or the day. The earliest impressions I can now recall are of the plantation and the slave quarters” (Booker T. Washington).”

About his origins…

In Chapter 1, Booker T. indicates the complexity of slavery by describing the bonds that his own mother held with the very people who kept them in bondage even-though “her addition to the slave family attracted about as much attention as the purchase of a new horse or cow”…

The intricate bonds of slavery

…Washington also addresses the American reality in which people on both side were victims “of the institution which the nation unhappily had en-grafted upon it at that time.”

“From the time that I can remember having any thoughts about anything, I recall that I had an intense longing to learn to read. I determined, when quite a small child, that if I accomplished nothing else in life, I would in some way get enough education to enable me to read common books and newspapers” Booker T. Washington

Importance of an education

Self-made person significance Conscientiousness Humility & unity

Amendment of rights Inspire the idea of change

Poverty among black population

Major Themes

Boyhood Days– In the second chapter, the

reader learns the importance of naming oneself as a means of reaffirming freedom

The Struggle for Education– Washington struggles, in this chapter, to earn enough money to reach and remain at Hampton Institute.

Helping Others -Conditions at Hampton are discussed in this chapter, as well as Washington's first trip home from school.

Chapters 2-4

The Reconstruction Period – Washington

provides several assessments of Reconstruction projects including: education, vocational opportunities, and voting rights.

Black Race and Red Race – General Armstrong calls Washington back to Hampton Institute for the purpose of instructing and advising a group of young Native-American men.

Early Days at Tuskegee – establishment of a normal school for African Americans in Tuskegee.

Chapters 5-7

Teaching School in a Stable and a Hen-house –

Washington details the necessity of a new form of education for the children of Tuskegee.

Anxious Days and Sleepless Nights – This chapter starts by stating how the people spent Christmas drinking and having a merry time, and not bearing in mind the true essence of Christmas

A Harder Task Than Making Bricks Without Straw – In this chapter, Washington discusses the importance of having the students erect their own buildings.

Chapters 8-10

Making Their Beds Before They Could Lie In Them –

The establishment of a boarding department is discussed as attendance rises at Tuskegee Institute.

Raising Money – Washington travels north to secure additional funding for the Institute with which he had much success.

Two Thousand Miles for a Five-Minute Speech – Washington marries again. His new wife is Olivia Davidson, first mentioned in Chapter 8. This chapter begins Washington's public speaking career.

Chapters 11-13

The Atlanta Exposition Address – The speech that Washington gave to the Atlanta Exposition

Chapter 14

The Secret Success in Public Speaking –

Washington speaks again of the reception of his Atlanta Exposition Speech.

Europe – The author is married a third time, to Margaret James Murray. He speaks about his children.

Last Words – Washington’s last interactions with General Armstrong and his first with Armstrong's successor, Rev. Dr. Hollis B. Frissell.

Chapters 15-17

About Booker T’s Atlanta Exposition Address:

“Here might be a real basis for the settlement between whites and blacks in the South.”

-W. E. B. Du Bois

Criticism