Up from Slavery

History has always been interesting to me, but like most people, there are parts of history that have a greater pull than others.  The Revolutionary War and the Founding have always been favorites of mine along with World War II.  I received two coffee table books as a kid from my grandparents, one about the Revolutionary War and one about the Civil War.  These were quality books made by National Geographic, back before that organization went political.  Along with some sound commentary, there were plenty of maps, graphics, and pictures that held a young boy’s attention long enough to foster an interest in these two seminal events in the history of the United States.

Up from Slavery by Booker T. Washington (ISBN: 978-0-9997797-3-6) tells of the famous educator’s life from his early boyhood as a slave to his rise as a professor and principal (these days we’d probably say president) of the Tuskegee Institute.  The book was short on the childhood section, understandably so, since he was so quite young when slavery ended and had spent his days like all the other slaves: working.  Once freed, he and his family struggled like many to find work that would pay the bills, but they succeeded, and his mom encouraged an innate love for learning that eventually led to Washington’s heading off to the Hampton School.  A popular place with newly freed blacks trying to improve their lot, the school didn’t have a lot of room, but Booker so impressed the lady in charge of admissions when he was asked to clean some of the school rooms, that he made it in.  He didn’t squander a single opportunity, graduated, and then set about to provide opportunities for others.  What that led to was his founding the Tuskegee Institute.  The greater section of the book is spent chronicling how the school came about, its struggles and successes, and its growth and Washington’s efforts to promote the school and secure the funding needed to keep it on its own two feet.  He worked hard no matter what he was involved in, whether teaching, overseeing the school, working in his own home with animals and in his garden, or fundraising.  He was also a well-known and in-demand orator, invited to speak at functions, fairs, and other public events.  Throughout the book, he spends significant time noting that service, hard work, fulfilling one’s duties, giving things one’s best shot, and honesty are the keys to success and happiness in life.  He also touches on the question of race and racism, but only as a reality that is in the background and that mostly stays there when one develops the abovementioned qualities and masters skills that others require, such as the brickmaking, animal husbandry, sewing, architecture, dairy farming, and others that his school taught in addition to academic subjects.

While very much aware of Booker T. Washington and his accomplishments because I don’t remember a class or unit on American history in school that didn’t include him (as he said, if one works hard and does something that others find useful, one will have earned respect and likely at least some recognition), the book was interesting to read because there was more to his life’s philosophy than the education that he is most famous for.  Washington was a hard worker who believed in taking the bull by the horns and not allowing life, fate, other people (including other people’s choices), or whatever other thing people blame their failures on control him.  He believed others had a better chance to be successful if they were educated both academically and in life skills and professional knowledge.  He dedicated his life to making that happen, noting along the way that he was most fulfilled when helping and serving others.  I enjoyed reading his take on race and racism — he largely ignored it.  He was a former slave, but had no time for holding grudges and found that a straightforward approach that did not insult Southerners, but found a way to lift them up, helped the most.  The relations between the blacks and whites in Tuskegee were good in his opinion, so the proof is in the pudding as far as his approach is concerned.  Finally, Washington continually gave credit for his success to God, which is always refreshing.  Both historically and morally, the book was great and well worth the time.

   

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