Up From Slavery

Incredible. Inspirational. He was born in slavery, in a one room cabin with a dirt floor and no windows. All he dearly wanted was to learn and go to school and yet he had to work and watch other children go past him on their way to school. He was working in the depths of a coal mine when he first learned about Hampton school. Somehow he made it there without money. He slept under a wooden sidewalk. One part of socks when he started school. I could go on and on with the many hardships he faced, which he called "difficulties." His mother died when he was still very young, and yet he did not let that break him. He lived his entire life lifting up others. I feel very humbled after reading this autobiography.

Read this book if you are in search of a truly uplifting experience. Booker T. Washington was freed from slavery at the age of 9 by the Lincoln Emancipation Act during the terrible American War between the States. He had led a harsh, deprived life but had one of those great minds & souls that enabled him to overcome his past. Education was the path. He attended college. Working as a janitor to pay for it. His whole life, aided by generous, far seeing white people, this in the Deep South, was devoted to the education of black people. Eventually he founded the famous Tuskegee College in Alabama. His tours of America to raise funds brought him fame, & the funds. Many of his speeches became famous all over America & beyond. This book is full of the determination, energy & love that one man showed to the world in some of the most troubled times America has seen. I hope everyone reads it.

I am sure I read Up from Slavery as a young person and have always been aware of Booker T Washington's success, philosophy, and the controversy concerning his support of industrial education. Reading now, a few decades later was quite enlightening especially in reflecting on the years after Washington's death when life in the South for former slaves did not seem to show that upward spiral that Washington expected. That is not a criticism of Washington but a sad reflection on how blatant racism and unfortunate economic circumstances overwhelmed the good that he felt he had accomplished for "his" people and the South. On the other hand, the success of Tuskegee is all the more remarkable if one assumes things were even worse than Washington described in his life. I read the book this second time to look at cultural issues of the time and to get a feel for how Washington described and responded to the racism that seemed to be so detrimental to most southern blacks except possibly extraordinary people like Washington. While exceedingly diplomatic and politically correct, he obviously knew racism as well as anyone and made his negative view of it very clear despite almost entirely dwelling on the positives he saw or imagined while promoting the virtues of those in a position to support his cause or at least not hinder it.

One the most amazing and inspirational books in print.Booker T. Washington describes his existence as a slave, his harsh early life as a free man, his efforts to get an education, and his long and prolific tenure as the Director of the Tuskegee Institute.The turning point in his life, which he often refers to, came when he had no money to attend the Hampton Institute. Desperate for an education, his only hope was to get a job with the Institute to defray his education costs. He is asked to sweep and dust a schoolroom, as a test to see if he could be a responsible member of the Institute.Washington observed, “I felt that my whole future life depended upon the thoroughness with which I cleaned that room, and I was determined to do it so well that no one could find any fault with the job.”This attitude fueled his view of life and how the Negro race would achieve recognition and success.Washington said, “Any man, regardless of color, will be recognized and rewarded just in proportion as he learns to do something well, leans to do it better than someone else-however humble the thing may be . I believe that my race will succeed in proportion as it learns to do a common thing in an uncommon manner, learns to do a thing so thoroughly that no one can improve upon what it has done, learns to make its services of indispensable value.”Washington writes in a deep, thoughtful style. It’s evident, that he spent hours elegantly crafting each sentence, expressing just the exact color and tone desired.He describes, in fascinating detail, his effort to develop a school from the ground up, his many travels, north and south, to raise money for the school, and his invitations to speak in far-flung venues. He expresses deep felt gratitude for the exceptional people that came into his life and provided help to him at critical times.This is a life well lived.Up From Slavery leaves me a warm feeling in my heart.

Just how does one lead a 'normal' life after being born into slavery? The answer in this case is 'very well indeed'. The author struggled to build a school for children from poor backgrounds, and when I say build, I mean he rolled up his sleeves and got stuck into the actual building work, and made sure his students did the same. This was as well as taking on all the administration work, and fund raising. An amazing person who deserved all the praise he received. Although subjected to prejudice, this did not make him bitter and he had a very forgiving nature.

Wow. What an inspiring man with an uplifting story. He started as an uneducated slave sleeping on a dirt floor and finished by founding Tuskegee Institute, having international respect, and receiving honours as an educator.

A very interesting and easy to read book. I have been inspired by Booker T. Washington's insight and dedication towards the plight of the emancipated slaves after the American civil war. Until I read this book, I had never thought about the difficulties that the newly emancipated slaves must have encountered. It amazes me how anyone who started life as a slave can have no hostility towards the people who treated his race so badly.

Excellent read. Well written, easy to follow, gives the reader a good understanding of life of a slave. The author writes with a cool clear style without sensationalism. Personally, I prefer this to 12 years a slave as this book shows what life was like for all slaves and how unbelievably they suffered under so-called Christian people. Highly recommended.

now have better understanding of slavery