Compare And Contrast Frederick Douglass And Booker T Washington

“Character, not circumstances, makes the man.”-Booker T. Washington. In two different books, Up from Slavery and Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, we discover two men whose astounding lives prove this quote. Both born in the southern United States during the 1800s, Booker T. Washington and Frederick Douglass lived the first parts of their lives in slavery. Throughout their life, they constantly desired the ability to make a change in the current way of things. With much striving and determination, both men became renowned public speakers fighting for what they believed in. While both born in the Southern United States, Booker and Frederick’s birth came at different times, causing them to experience distinctive lives. Booker’s

During Booker’s time as a slave, he often heard talk of freedom for all slaves, and when he was only seven this talk came true. In 1863, the Emancipation Proclamation freed Booker and all other slaves in the United States of America. So, even though his time in slavery presented challenges and suffering, he did not have to remain in it long. After the emancipation proclamation, Booker and his family adapted to free life and began building a life of their own. Poor and lowly their lives remained, but in their hearts, they held the joy of freedom. Determined to learn, Booker attended school, whenever his father allowed him to cease working, whether this relief came at night or during the day. Booker thrived when he learned, and he craved the sweet fruit of knowledge. Freedom came to Booker when only a young boy, and he did not waste

Washington and Frederick Douglass established goals which they diligently pursued. Booker made it his goal to provide all black people with the ability and opportunity to receive an education. When he reached a suitable age and scrounged up enough money, Booker attended Hampton University, where he received a much-desired education, and learned many valuable life lessons. From his experience at the University and his longing for black people to have equal opportunities, Booker decided to establish his own school. When offered to open one in Tuskegee, Alabama, Booker jumped at the chance and eventually transformed the small-town school into a massive institution for black people of all ages. At the Tuskegee institute, students received full educations, along with learning essential life skills, as Booker felt this, as well as physical labor, was as important if not more so than schooling. To support his beloved school, he, and his wife, traveled around attempting and succeeding to raise money for the institution. Booker’s fame grew, and renowned men approached him all the time requesting he speak at many different important events. Booker T. Washington set a noble goal, pursued it, and fulfilled it to the best of his