Booker t. washington and his contribution in world's history

April 5, 1856 a man was born to an unknown white man and Jane, as a slave on a West Virginia plantation named Burroughs’. He was raised around the same time of an important part of history, The Civil War (1861.) His named appears on Burroughs’ property inventory, with a value of $400. 00. Several years later, The Civil War ends and President Lincoln signs the Emancipation Proclamation . This slave was one of the four million slaves to become emancipated. After this he relocated to Malden, WV with his mother (Jane), siblings (John and Amanda), and freedman stepfather (Washington Ferguson.) Shortly after the move, he worked in the salt and coal mines during the time he attended school for the first time. He was so dedicated that he awoke every morning at 4 a. m. to practice and study for school in order to be great. Shortly after, he took the first name of his step-father (Washington) as his last name. In 1872, he attends the Hampton Institute to further his education. Three years later, at the age of 20, he graduates with honors from the Hampton Institute and becomes a teacher in Malden, WV. 1878 this graduate studies at the Wayland Seminary School, located in Washington D. C., for about 18 months. Shortly after, this scholar teaches at the Hampton Institute and becomes a dorm father to about 50 Native American students. Soon he will accomplish one of his greatest achievements. Booker T. Washington was a goal-oriented educator that achieved several important accomplishments, by overcoming his obstacles. “ 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.” – Booker T. Washington

One of Washington’s many accomplishments is the founding of Tuskegee Institute, known as Tuskegee University. This institute was founded in 188, to teach and train African-Americans in two fields, which are agriculture and industry. This Institute began with the passing of the House Bill No. 165 . This bill allowed “ Negro Normal School in Tuskegee.” Soon after Lewis Adams, Thomas Dryer, George W. Campbell, and M. B. Swanson formed a board of commissioners to open the school. Without any buildings, teachers, or land, the dream of having a school for African Americans was quite challenging. But by word from George W. Campbell’s nephew, Booker T. Washington accepted the offer for becoming a teacher for the soon to be the Tuskegee Institute. July 4, 1881, Booker became the principal of the Tuskegee Institute. Shortly after the founding of the Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute, the school relocated from an old church to a 100 acre abandoned plantation. In 1892, the institute gained independence through legislation. This institutional independence accessed authority to act independent of the state of Alabama. The school provided many academics and trades in certain fields, such as industrial, farming, carpentry, agriculture, and etc. This institute grew from twenty-five students to 1500 students and offered 38 professions and trades under Booker’s leadership. More buildings were built on campus, the faculty increased to 200 (Including a very accomplished man named George Washington Carver,) and an endowment of about $2 million, while Washington was the Principal. Booker T. Washington continued to fundraise for new buildings, equipment, books, and etc.

Another great accomplishment that Washington achieved was becoming a speaker for the opening day of the Atlanta Exposition . September 18, 1895, Booker T. Washington spoke his most famous speech “ Atlanta Compromise ,” to a predominantly white crowd. A famous line from Booker’s speech was “ We can be as separate as the fingers, yet one as the hand in all things essential to mutual progress.” Washington’s speech addressed both white and black citizens to collaborate and work together to wards social peace and race relations. Even though some blacks didn’t agree with his approach, Washington still earned a lot of respect and supporters from his speech. Booker’s speech became so powerful that he became an arbiter , pragmatist , and an adviser to Presidents. Booker became an adviser for Presidents Theodore Roosevelt and William Howard Taft. June 24, 1896 Washington earns an honorary degree from Harvard University. Soon, Booker wrote his own novel named The Story of My Life and Work. During all of these accomplishments, Washington endured another obstacle in his life, trauma. He married his first wife (Fanny N. Smith) in 1882, and then had a daughter (Portia) a year later. In 1884 Fanny died and Washington endured a traumatic experience of losing his wife as well as the mother of his child. A year later he married Olivia Davidson (Assistant Principal of the Tuskegee Institute.) Soon they birthed two sons, Booker T. Washington Jr. and Ernest Davidson Washington. However, Booker endured another traumatic experience, Olivia’s death in 1889. Moreover, he remarried Margaret Murray, who raised his three children and became the Lady Principal of the Tuskegee Institute.

However, overcoming 9 years of slavery, challenges of becoming educated as an African-American, racism, trauma, and discrimination, Booker T. Washington still succeeded and built a legacy for African-Americans to learn and become a scholar, just as he did. Booker stressed white approval and respectable behavior to his students, so whites know African Americans can demonstrate a respectable manner and behave properly. Even though it was a very challenging experience, Washington kept a positive attitude and strongly believed that “ Character, not circumstances, makes the man.” Booker T. created a legacy to better his people by teaching, training, and demonstration. Also, Booker believed education, crafts, and industrial skills brought out the best interests of African-American people during the Post Reconstruction era. Washington was happy and overjoyed with helping his people because he believed “ Those who are happiest are those who do the most for others.” November 14, 1915, Booker T. Washington dies at age 59.