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When I sat down to choose the subject of our first blog post, I didn’t have to think very long. Booker T. Washington, an American author, speaker, and educator, immediately came to mind. I had heard of Washington before, however, it wasn’t until I dug deeper into his story that I developed a true appreciation and admiration for his life’s work. Washington, born into slavery, went on to open over 5,000 schools for African Americans in the South, advise presidents, and even have tea with a queen. 

Washington’s Birthplace in Virginia is now a National Monument

Washington was born on a plantation in Franklin County, Virginia. He never knew his exact birthday but it is believed he was born in the year 1856. His mother was a slave named Jane, and although he never knew the exact identify of his father, it was believed to be a white man from a nearby plantation.  At age 9, his family was freed from slavery by the Emancipation Proclamation and they moved to West Virginia to begin their lives as freedmen. 

In his autobiography, Up From Slavery, Washington writes much about his childhood and his unwavering pursuit of an education. He wrote “There was never a time in my youth, no matter how dark and discouraging the days might be, when one resolve did not continually remain with me, and that was a determination to secure an education at any cost.” This dedication to education would become the defining feature of Washington’s life. As a child he taught himself to read using old workbooks and worked in salt furnaces and coal mines to afford school. It was at one of these jobs that he overheard two men talking of a school for freedmen, Hampton Institute (now Hampton University). From then on, it was Washington’s main goal to attend this school. He worked overtime and saved enough money to make the trip to Hampton, where he worked as a janitor to pay for his schooling. It was at the Hampton Institute that Washington caught the eye of Gen. Samuel Armstrong, the Institute’s president. Armstrong saw Washington’s perseverance and believed there was something special about him. Later, the General recommended him for a position as the first leader of the Tuskegee Institute (now Tuskegee University), an institute of higher learning for African-Americans in Alabama. Washington was only 25 when he accepted the position and he led the Tuskegee Institute for over 30 years. Ironically, when it was time for the institute to expand, Washington chose a former plantation as the permanent site. Together with the students and staff, Washington built what is now known as Tuskegee University.

Tuskegee History Class, 1902

Although leading the Tuskegee Institute is what he is best known for, Washington’s influence was far reaching. Always an advocate for black education, he helped raise money for the Rosenwald Fund, which supported the building and running of over 5,000 schools and education resources for blacks in the South. In fact, if you live in the American South, it’s very likely you’ve heard of a school named for him. Later in life, Washington became one of the central leaders in the Black community. In 1895 he gave a speech dubbed the Atlanta Address in response to increased lynchings in the South. This speech thrust him into the national spotlight. Washington pushed for more educational opportunities for African-Americans and peace between races. However, many in the black community, most notably W.E.B. DuBois, voiced complaints about Washington’s seeming acceptance of inequality and segregation. DuBois mockingly called him “The Great Accommodator”. However, while Washington spoke publicly for peace he secretly funded legal battles opposing inequality throughout the South.

Washington speaking in New Orleans, 1915

Washington’s rising fame provided him with the opportunity to meet many influential leaders and politicians. First, he met President William McKinley when he and his cabinet visited the Tuskegee Institute in 1898. More controversially, Washington had dinner with President Teddy Roosevelt in 1901 at the White House. Although several African American leaders had visited the White House before, it was taboo at the time for a white person to invite a person of color to dine with them, as it symbolized equality. The dinner would be a first in American history. After news of this meeting became public, many Southern Americans were outraged. (Check out this NPR podcast for more on this presidential scandal.) 

“I have learned that success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed.”

-Booker T. Washington, Up from Slavery: An Autobiography

Most interestingly for me, a well documented Anglophile, Washington and his wife had tea with Queen Victoria and Susan B. Anthony during a trip to Europe. Of this event Washington writes, “I was deeply impressed with the fact that one did not often get an opportunity to see, during the same hour, two women so remarkable in different ways”.

Washington was married three times, first to Fannie N Smith, then to Olivia A Davidson, and then Margaret James Murray. He had three children, a daughter named Portia with Fannie and two sons with Olivia named Booker Jr. and Ernest. While his first two marriages were short lived, due to the untimely death of his wives, his last marriage to Margaret lasted 22 years. In a fun connection to another of our Mixed History heroes, Washington’s granddaughter Nettie married Frederick Douglass’ great grandson, Dr. Frederick Douglass III.

Washington continued as principal at the Tuskegee Institute until his death in 1915. In a fitting ending to his story, Washington was buried on the Tuskegee campus near the University Chapel. Washington had dedicated 34 years of his life to the school. 

“Lifting the Veil” Monument at Tuskegee University

Booker T. Washington was one of the last great black leaders born into slavery. He brought a unique perspective to discussions on racism and inequality. His work in securing an education for black Americans was instrumental to improving the quality of life and paved the way for further advancements in the fight for civil rights. Seven years after his death, a monument to Washington was placed in the center of Tuskegee University . The inscription summarizes his impact better than I ever could. It reads:

“He lifted the veil of ignorance from his people and pointed the way to progress through education and industry.”

Further Reading

Didn’t get enough Mixed History? Check out the lists below for more info on Booker T. Washington!

Books

  • Guest of Honor: Booker T. Washington, Theodore Roosevelt, and the White House Dinner That Shocked a Nation by Deborah Davis
  • Up from Slavery: An Autobiography by Booker T. Washington
  • Up from History: The Life of Booker T Washington by Robert J. Norrell
  • Who Was Booker T Washington? by James Buckley Jr.
  • Fifty Cents and a Dream: Young Booker T Washington by Jabari Asim
  • With Books and Bricks: How Booker T. Washington Built a School by Suzanne Slade

Media