Up from Slavery (Dover Thrift Editions: Black History)

Up From Slavery is a book by the prominent African-American leader Booker T. Washington. This book was so important that I had to include a discussion of it in my book: The Real Wakandas of Africa. He was a very important part of the Black community in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Up From Slavery is a must read for all who feel that people have the ability to succeed despite their circumstances. Booker T. Washington was born into slavery, yet he rose to become one of the leading Black figures of his day. Yearning to read at an early age, he took a journey by himself to go to school. Facing segregated facilities and without money, he had to work to pay for his travel (hundreds of miles away) to the school. Upon arriving at school he worked at the school to pay his way through school. Eventually, he established Tuskegee University and his students built many of the buildings there. Booker T. Washington is often looked down upon because he did not advocate publicly for voting rights. However, there is some evidence that he was funneling money to support voting rights campaigns. Marcus Garvey looked up to Booker T. Washington because he focused upon industry and upon controlling businesses in the black community. Up From Slavery is an important read along with other books like that of WEB Du Bois. In many ways his book serves as the foundation for the importance of black owned businesses. Despite its shortcomings, you will enjoy this book and the development of Booker T. Washington as he often presents himself as having the perfect solution for any given situation. If there was a shortcoming to Booker T. Washington, it was that he did not publicly advocate for political rights for Black people. Like Booker T. Washington‘s book, I also discuss the importance of economic development of black businesses in the African-American community in my book The Real Wakandas of Africa. However, unlike Washington I also discuss the rich history of Africa before slavery and before colonialism. Prior to slavery Africans performed surgery on the eye to remove cataracts 700 years ago. In Central Africa they conducted cesarean sections with antiseptics several hundred years before they were done anywhere else in the world. They smelted carbon steel 2000 years before the present and Africans built the tallest building in the world. This building stood as the tallest building for more than 4000 years. To add to this, Africans also constructed a wall for which I wrote a book called: The Great Wall of Africa: The Empire of Benin’s 10,000 Mile Long Wall. This wall would almost wrap around the United States of America. It is stories like these that are often missing from African-American history. Nevertheless, the book Up From Slavery by Booker T. Washington is a classic and a must read. It will keep you captivated with the life of Booker T. Washington as he struggled as a child to learn to read, pursued advanced degrees, and became a prominent Black leader in American society. Pick up a copy today!

The autobiography of a remarkable man who spent his first six years in slavery. Through his own story, he recounts the immense challenges faced by black Americans in the early years after emancipation. He also describes his impressive struggle to obtain an education, his call to Tuskegee, Alabama to assume the Directorship of the fledgling Tuskegee Institute, and his efforts to negotiate life in the Jim Crow years. It struck me that, more than an autobiography, this book is an apologetic written by one of the leading black voices at the time. It’s at once an effort to convince white readers of the value of black Americans to the national life, and a call to black readers to work hard and prove their worth in order to silence the prejudiced. In some circles, he is dismissed as too passive, however, I was awed by his tenacity, integrity and tireless efforts on behalf of his people as they sought inclusion in the American experiment. Rather than a passive individual, I encountered a man who overcame overwhelming obstacles to fulfill a vision that impacted thousands of lives. A true American hero.

I grew up in Virginia. We learned a lot about the early colonists, the revolutionary war, and the civil war, but I never learned about Booker T. Washington. I'm glad I stumbled upon this book by accident a few weeks ago. It was eye-opening to say the least. To be able to read something written by a former slave is incredible. So much of history is written by observers after the fact. This book is written by a participant. Booker T. Washington writes with incredible clarity. It's easy to read his narrative, which moves quickly and covers many years and many historic moments from slavery and reconstruction, to the foundation for the civil rights movement. This book is chalked full of incredible quotes and ideas. Booker provides ample fuel for anyone who needs some gas in their tank to be optimistic, hard-working, or altruistic. Top off your reserves with this book and get a look at some critical moments of American history, told from a perspective that is unique and credible.

Booker Washington’s story of hard work and resilience in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds, with an outlook on the struggles of life that would seem other worldly or even racist to utter on a college campus today, is a fantastic reminder of what a driven individual can accomplish. Too many blame the world and society for their failings. This book proves once and for all that this whining, name calling and deflection practiced by modern cry bullies that make up university faculty, student body and administration is nothing but an poor excuse for their own, or someone else’s in a “marginalized” groups’, failures.

It has proof slaves originally didn't have or was allowed to surnames and surnames is modern invention/addition coming out of European so those Musta-arabs can stopping lying to the African Muslims born in America to keep the surnames our parents had acquired from the European slave holder because were not our father nor father's father surname they were African people so is is proper to place ibn( meaning son of or Bint ( meaning daughter of ) after our names example Tahirah Fatimah bint Moses or Mahmud Ahmadu ibn Adam you follow not ! Tahirah Fatimah Bint John Doe or Mahmud Ahmadu ibn John Doe ! they are either very ignorant or they still look at us a Slave!

This book is a small but amazing peak into Booker T Washington's life. He is truly a man to be emulated and his writing should be essential reading for children when studying reconstruction after the Civil War.

Inspiring read. A book that should be read by all Americans.

J’ai apprécié ce livre et surtout de le lire en anglais . On y apprend beaucoup de choses sur l’esclavages en Amerique.

I read this on a website for those who have asphasia. (difficulty reading after a stroke or anyone with reading difficulties) and this was a fascinating read. You hear so much negativity and focus on what white people did to black people that unless you are studying the subject we do not realise just how much black and white worked together to resolve the problems had by becoming free. Where many considered they had a home, family and a life and security they suddenly found they had options but no idea how to go about getting them or what it was they should be trying to get and many did not want to change. This well written story was written by someone who started as a poor black young man who could not read but who had determination and belief and with help from other, whte black, poor and rich he made little more than a room into a school and tought basic living, good skills and education and by his and other who helped him find quality of life over the years with strong morals and rules. Refused to accept that having money and acquiring 'things' was the answer but that learning from the bottom up gave personal pleasure. He educated hundreds and the students built the schools and grew what they ate. He like many similar were amazing people and he and his friends, black, and white, woman and men, educated, poor and rich at one time ensured that he travelled by boat to England where he met Queen Victoria who knew of his work. Read it. It is an important part of history.

Mankind, for the most part, has the innate ability to succeed in any endeavour. Some, for example, Booker T. Washington, are blessed with the desire and, therefore, the motivation to succeed. I will read this book again

I like the book… Tells the reality and hardships Emphasis the value of learning a trade.

At the time this book was written black writers were few. What makes the book so incredible was not the book itself but a self educated slave could have written it and that a former slave could have come out of slavery and educate himself to be a teacher. This is why so many African-Americans are able to rise to be teachers at many collages and universities in the USA. It is a positive book that shows that hard work and determination can over many obstacles and that education can lead to success in life even for a former slave.