Booker T. Washington's Up From Slavery

Up from slavery is an autobiography book which narrates the life of Booker T. Washington, an African American, who was one of the founders of Tuskegee Institute. According to the book, he takes us through the U.S history like Civil War as well as the transition from slaves to free of African Americans. This book provides many information to help us more understand on that time. He was also a leader of blacks in helping improve the relationship between white race and black race. Washington was born as a slave on a plantation in Franklin County, Virginia. However, he was not sure of the exact where and when he was born. He knew not thing about his ancestry and his dad. His mom was the planation cook. They lived in a small and uncomfortable

Ruffiner’s house, he was accepted to study at the Hampton Institute, a school for all people regardless of races, was founded by whites after Civil War. However, he still had a burning desire to attend Hampton. In the fall of 1872, he with very little of money that was donated by his brother, John and some other color people who were inspired by his dream. When he reached Hampton, he broke and was exhausted. At the Hampton Institute, he was learned a lot of important lessons about education that were remember for the rest of his fife. He thought these lessons should be rounded and people should learn the way to love labor. Tuition was a difficult to him. Luckily, he met Mr. General Samuel C. Amstrong who helped him have a job as a teacher to earn money for tuition. After he graduated from the Hampton Institute, he became a teacher at Malden. He opened the night class for people who work during day to teach them read, write and keep themselves clean. However, there was a conflict between whites and blacks still exist. When the “Ku Klux Klan” always wanted to regulate black behavior, and break the black political aspirations. The “Ku Klux Klan” burned schools and churches, many innocent people died. It was the darkest period in Reconstruction history. In this chapter, Washington also gave his role models who played in his life such as Mrs. Ruffner who influenced his moral orientation, and Mr. Amstrong who helped him a lot. He expressed gratitude

He realized that most of students in Washington D.C didn’t understand much about life because they were richer, so they didn’t worry about costs and books. While students in Hampton were more self-reliant, they had to learned to help themselves through the industries. After that, he accepted the invitation from a committee of whites in Charleston to advocate the city to become a new capital of the West Virginia. He began to build fame as a speaker and was encouraged to take part in politics. However, he declined and felt that education was his main purpose, and it was beneficial to blacks. He also thought that politics preferment would be a selfish kind of success. In 1881, Mr. Armstrong recommended Washington become a leader of Tuskegee in Alabama, a school for color people when he received a request. Although the request wanted a white people to manage that school, Washington still was accepted with the surprise. Tuskegee school was opened at July 4, 1881. The main goal of the Tuskegee Institute was make hard working people, learn a trade, and help them how to earn a living. They also should learn the important of keeping themselves clean and save money. He wanted his students not to be ashamed of manual labor, but to be motivated to try more. He hoped that the students after graduation would be a model for everyone over the country and inspire them. In the process the school