Scan barcode
bupdaddy's review against another edition
3.0
I guess Washington has taken a hit in the reputation department in the past twenty or so years, from no-compromise purists who can't abide his position to let the races 'be as separate as the fingers, but work together as a hand' (paraphrased). But man, I gotta cut him some slack, given where society was at the time.
Anyway, fascinating read of a guy who just had too much life force to be stopped by anybody.
I *do* wish he had come up with another verb for 'procure' from time to time. Nobody ever bought, obtained, begged, borrowed or stole anything, by his telling. procure, procure, procure...
Anyway, fascinating read of a guy who just had too much life force to be stopped by anybody.
I *do* wish he had come up with another verb for 'procure' from time to time. Nobody ever bought, obtained, begged, borrowed or stole anything, by his telling. procure, procure, procure...
mrslaww612's review against another edition
3.0
A bit on the dry side, and in the last half of the big there seemed to be a good bit of self-promotion, which got annoying. However, it was interesting to learn a bit more about an important historic figure!
rosannelortz's review against another edition
4.0
Born a slave in 1856, Booker T. Washington was only a child when the American Civil War commenced. After the war ended and the slaves were emancipated, young Booker moved to West Virginia with his mother, brother, and step-father. The newly freed slaves had to work hard to support themselves, and Booker (not even a teenager yet) did hard labor in the salt factories and coal mines to earn wages for the family. Even though he had few chances for education, Booker set his heart on learning to read, and once he had mastered reading, he determined that he must learn more.
After several years, Booker heard about a new school for blacks established in Virginia called the Hampton Institute. With barely enough money for traveling expenses, he made his way to Hampton and asked to be admitted as a student. He did not have the money to pay either room and board or tuition at Hampton, but the school was used to finding sponsors to pay tuition for promising young people. One of the teachers gave Booker an unusual admissions test, instructing him to sweep one of the classrooms. Booker went over that room with the broom again and again, cleaning it so thoroughly that the teacher was amazed. He was admitted to the school and given janitorial work, the wages from which he could use to pay his room and board.
Booker excelled at the Hampton Institute becoming a noted public speaker. In his autobiography, he emphasizes that the most important thing he learned there was not to despise manual labor. He notes that many blacks of the time wanted to get an education because they thought that if they had book learning they would no longer have to do work. Booker came away from Hampton believing that it was just as important for the members of his race to master manual labor trades as it was for them to become men of letters.
After receiving further education at Wayland Seminary, Booker was ready to become a teacher and pass along all the knowledge he had gained. General Armstrong, the head of the Hampton Institute, recommended Booker to head up a brand new school for blacks in Alabama. It was called the Tuskegee Institute, and Booker spent the rest of his life establishing, nurturing, growing, defending, and delighting in this school.
Booker developed the truths he had learned at Hampton into an educational philosophy for Tuskegee. All students were required to learn a trade at the same time as they pursued their academic studies. Brickmaking was one of the more popular trades, and Tuskegee was renowned for the fine quality of bricks produced at the school. The students were required to build their own dormitories, furniture, and classrooms, giving them an even further appreciation of working with their hands so that they would have the opportunity of learning with their heads.
The Southern white folks who lived around the school were surprisingly sympathetic to and supportive of all of Booker T. Washington’s efforts. Many of them contributed money for the establishment and maintenance of the school. As the Tuskegee Institute began to become renowned, the community took pride in its excellence.
Enrollment increased every year, and Booker was forced to spend more and more time fundraising. He traveled constantly to cities like Boston, to speak before clubs, community gatherings, and wealthy philanthropists. He describes his efforts not as begging, but as a simple laying down of the facts of the matter. Once the wealthy citizens in America heard about the school, its mission, and its success so far, they were happy to open their wallets without even being asked.
Booker became an increasingly public figure, a figurehead for the African American population in America. He received high praise for his Atlanta Address in 1895 and even corresponded with the president of the United States. The autobiography of Booker T. Washington shows a humble man who was willing to work slowly to help his race become better off intellectually, morally, and spiritually. His philosophy was that no matter the difficulties you face, hard work and merit will be rewarded in the end.
“I have always been made sad,” he writes, “when I have heard members of any race claiming rights and privileges, or certain badges of distinction, on the ground simply that they were members of this or that race, regardless of their own individual worth or attainments…. I am conscious of the fact that mere connection with what is known as a superior race will not permanently carry an individual forward unless he has individual worth, and mere connection with what is regarded as an inferior race will not finally hold an individual back if he possesses intrinsic, individual merit. Every persecuted individual and race should get much consolation out of the great human law, which is universal and eternal, that merit, no matter under what skin found, is in the long run, recognized and rewarded.”
After several years, Booker heard about a new school for blacks established in Virginia called the Hampton Institute. With barely enough money for traveling expenses, he made his way to Hampton and asked to be admitted as a student. He did not have the money to pay either room and board or tuition at Hampton, but the school was used to finding sponsors to pay tuition for promising young people. One of the teachers gave Booker an unusual admissions test, instructing him to sweep one of the classrooms. Booker went over that room with the broom again and again, cleaning it so thoroughly that the teacher was amazed. He was admitted to the school and given janitorial work, the wages from which he could use to pay his room and board.
Booker excelled at the Hampton Institute becoming a noted public speaker. In his autobiography, he emphasizes that the most important thing he learned there was not to despise manual labor. He notes that many blacks of the time wanted to get an education because they thought that if they had book learning they would no longer have to do work. Booker came away from Hampton believing that it was just as important for the members of his race to master manual labor trades as it was for them to become men of letters.
After receiving further education at Wayland Seminary, Booker was ready to become a teacher and pass along all the knowledge he had gained. General Armstrong, the head of the Hampton Institute, recommended Booker to head up a brand new school for blacks in Alabama. It was called the Tuskegee Institute, and Booker spent the rest of his life establishing, nurturing, growing, defending, and delighting in this school.
Booker developed the truths he had learned at Hampton into an educational philosophy for Tuskegee. All students were required to learn a trade at the same time as they pursued their academic studies. Brickmaking was one of the more popular trades, and Tuskegee was renowned for the fine quality of bricks produced at the school. The students were required to build their own dormitories, furniture, and classrooms, giving them an even further appreciation of working with their hands so that they would have the opportunity of learning with their heads.
The Southern white folks who lived around the school were surprisingly sympathetic to and supportive of all of Booker T. Washington’s efforts. Many of them contributed money for the establishment and maintenance of the school. As the Tuskegee Institute began to become renowned, the community took pride in its excellence.
Enrollment increased every year, and Booker was forced to spend more and more time fundraising. He traveled constantly to cities like Boston, to speak before clubs, community gatherings, and wealthy philanthropists. He describes his efforts not as begging, but as a simple laying down of the facts of the matter. Once the wealthy citizens in America heard about the school, its mission, and its success so far, they were happy to open their wallets without even being asked.
Booker became an increasingly public figure, a figurehead for the African American population in America. He received high praise for his Atlanta Address in 1895 and even corresponded with the president of the United States. The autobiography of Booker T. Washington shows a humble man who was willing to work slowly to help his race become better off intellectually, morally, and spiritually. His philosophy was that no matter the difficulties you face, hard work and merit will be rewarded in the end.
“I have always been made sad,” he writes, “when I have heard members of any race claiming rights and privileges, or certain badges of distinction, on the ground simply that they were members of this or that race, regardless of their own individual worth or attainments…. I am conscious of the fact that mere connection with what is known as a superior race will not permanently carry an individual forward unless he has individual worth, and mere connection with what is regarded as an inferior race will not finally hold an individual back if he possesses intrinsic, individual merit. Every persecuted individual and race should get much consolation out of the great human law, which is universal and eternal, that merit, no matter under what skin found, is in the long run, recognized and rewarded.”
melg0378's review against another edition
4.0
Great read (audio) but I enjoyed hearing the south from an ex-slaves perspective that rose to start Tuskegee Institution. Booker did have great drive to see the south rise from the era of slavery. He had some rose-colored glasses when it came to race relations. He always noted that there should be a level playing field and that colored people should be afford the education, resources and laws to be able to succeed. I truly wonder what he would think of the US today.
1katherinerine1's review against another edition
5.0
I haven’t read a lot of memoirs. Most of what I read for fun is fantasy and science fiction. But, reading for fun tends to leave important books like these to the wayside. Up from Slavery is not a fun book. It is infuriating that only a few decades ago, there were people kept as property. Even now, there is inequality based purely on the color of people’s skin. Up from Slavery is not a fun book, but it’s an important book. I would say that everyone can benefit from reading this book, even though it was written one hundred and twenty years ago (at the time of this review).
Up from Slavery is the memoir of Booker T. Washington, who was born into slavery. When he was six, the Emancipation proclamation was created. Washington was a hard worker, and he worked to pay for college. He went to Hampton University with only a few dollars in his pocket. While taking classes at the college, he took up a job as a janitor to pay for his education. Washington made it clear that hard work was key to pursue an education.
The second half of the book revolves around Washington creating the Tunsgee institute, and the many trials he had to overcome during the founding. He wanted to give black students an education. The students contributed to the building of the college, by crafting bricks for the buildings and donating food and fabric for the students. Other members of the black community gave supplies as well so that the students could have an education.
While telling his story, Washington interjects with anecdotes that are incredibly powerful. I was particularly struck with this quote: “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.” This and many other bits of wisdom are sprinkled throughout the book. I had to stop and put down the book to think about the power in those words. It’s incredible how much of what Washington says is perfect for our modern-day problems.
Something I love about reading memoirs is that it tells a unique story about someone’s life. Reading memoirs has given me many new insights about the challenges other people experience. Up from Slavery will be a book I will remember.
Thanks for reading my review!
Up from Slavery is the memoir of Booker T. Washington, who was born into slavery. When he was six, the Emancipation proclamation was created. Washington was a hard worker, and he worked to pay for college. He went to Hampton University with only a few dollars in his pocket. While taking classes at the college, he took up a job as a janitor to pay for his education. Washington made it clear that hard work was key to pursue an education.
The second half of the book revolves around Washington creating the Tunsgee institute, and the many trials he had to overcome during the founding. He wanted to give black students an education. The students contributed to the building of the college, by crafting bricks for the buildings and donating food and fabric for the students. Other members of the black community gave supplies as well so that the students could have an education.
While telling his story, Washington interjects with anecdotes that are incredibly powerful. I was particularly struck with this quote: “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.” This and many other bits of wisdom are sprinkled throughout the book. I had to stop and put down the book to think about the power in those words. It’s incredible how much of what Washington says is perfect for our modern-day problems.
Something I love about reading memoirs is that it tells a unique story about someone’s life. Reading memoirs has given me many new insights about the challenges other people experience. Up from Slavery will be a book I will remember.
Thanks for reading my review!
sarahcoller's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
I very much enjoyed this autobiography of Booker T. Washington. At first, I thought it was a reread, but I quickly realized I was mixing it up with Douglass's autobiography that I read about 12 years ago. This man had the "power of positive thinking" down to a science. I was regularly blown away by the positive attitude and forgiving heart he displayed repeatedly to those he had lots of good reasons to hate. I don't know that I could so easily lay down bitterness and frustration, feelings of wanting revenge or compensation, etc. and just walk into freedom with a desire to prove my worth and "right" to that freedom. In some cases, I think he displayed an unfortunate mentality that the black population had the ability to rise to the superior status of the white man, if they just put in a little effort. I understand why he may have thought that way, but it saddened me. I think people of all races can read this and be encouraged to be better tomorrow than they are today, by putting in a little effort --- but race is not a determining factor. The determining factor, in my opinion, is character.
The book is full of inspiring stories and quotes. Here are a few:
<i>"I would permit no man, no matter what his colour might be, to narrow and degrade my soul by making me hate him."</i>
<i>"great men cultivate love...weak men cherish a spirit of hatred"</i>
<i>"those who are happiest are those who do the most for others."</i>
The book is full of inspiring stories and quotes. Here are a few:
<i>"I would permit no man, no matter what his colour might be, to narrow and degrade my soul by making me hate him."</i>
<i>"great men cultivate love...weak men cherish a spirit of hatred"</i>
<i>"those who are happiest are those who do the most for others."</i>
jordana_dear's review against another edition
3.0
This book was relatively mundane and didn't provide as much detail or education about Washington's life as I expected. He so lightly touched on his experience as a slave that i was surprised to not learn more about his more formative years while enslaved. His theories and philosophy seem to be deeply sympathetic towards the people who enslaved him as well as expectant that you alone make your way in the world and rather efacing of any systems built to keep down those who are not white. Knowing that Washington has faced pushback for his views from other Black voices whose experience was and is still violent and harder to rise from makes more sense to me after reading this.
irreverentreader's review against another edition
2.0
I'll admit that I was expecting a very different book from the book I read. Though I knew very little about Booker T Washington before this read, I've come away from it feeling that after only 200 pages, I know very little of his actual person and too much about his work at Tuskegee.
He was a man that lived for his work, and that was evident in every line of his autobiography. He spoke almost exclusively on his time at Hampton Institute and Tuskegee and spent very little talking of himself or his family. In fact, the only lines he devoted to his three wives were that they were hard workers and each in turn worked themselves to death. In this way, he comes across as unlikable and unrelatable. Also, while offering a modest front, does seem a bit braggadocios at times, which was off-putting.
Washington also tends to come across as hopelessly naive. His opinions on the progress of the white south and of the very rich are ones that read ignorant, not only for his time, but also for the current day. To be fair, I don't think he willfully stuck his head in the sand, but rather had a personal experience with these things that most others of his time had not, and for me that led to a less honest retelling of the Reconstructionist period. I think Washington would be gravely disappointed to see where we are now, 120 years removed from him.
There were things of interest in the book, as I am always fond of learning history, but they were often rehashed many times, for Booker tends to repeat himself from chapter to chapter. Personally, I think there are more fascincating people to read about from that time period and likely won't be returning to Booker in the future.
He was a man that lived for his work, and that was evident in every line of his autobiography. He spoke almost exclusively on his time at Hampton Institute and Tuskegee and spent very little talking of himself or his family. In fact, the only lines he devoted to his three wives were that they were hard workers and each in turn worked themselves to death. In this way, he comes across as unlikable and unrelatable. Also, while offering a modest front, does seem a bit braggadocios at times, which was off-putting.
Washington also tends to come across as hopelessly naive. His opinions on the progress of the white south and of the very rich are ones that read ignorant, not only for his time, but also for the current day. To be fair, I don't think he willfully stuck his head in the sand, but rather had a personal experience with these things that most others of his time had not, and for me that led to a less honest retelling of the Reconstructionist period. I think Washington would be gravely disappointed to see where we are now, 120 years removed from him.
There were things of interest in the book, as I am always fond of learning history, but they were often rehashed many times, for Booker tends to repeat himself from chapter to chapter. Personally, I think there are more fascincating people to read about from that time period and likely won't be returning to Booker in the future.
coddoc11's review against another edition
3.0
Professor Washington has the a lot of similar views to modern, southern conservatives - however, this book was written in 1901. These are not views that have stood the test of time, and in fact, within 20 years of this book's publishing, much of the hopes and prophecies that Mr. Washington puts forward were dashed.
Mr. Washington is someone who will forever be remembered for his lifelong endeavor to help the black folks of the south through hard work and education, however I can't help but notice how he speaks of his fellows throughout the book. Put in contrast with the constant praise Mr. Washington gave to the countless, rich, white folks through out the book, one is lead to wonder if the book is intended to encourage his fellow black folks see a path out of the darkness of the time as it he marketed it, or if it was all song and dance for his majority white donors. While I lean toward the latter, it's important to understand that he is an orator and professor at heart - the type of person that can play to a room full of mixed interests and bring them all on the same page.
Mr. Washington is someone who will forever be remembered for his lifelong endeavor to help the black folks of the south through hard work and education, however I can't help but notice how he speaks of his fellows throughout the book. Put in contrast with the constant praise Mr. Washington gave to the countless, rich, white folks through out the book, one is lead to wonder if the book is intended to encourage his fellow black folks see a path out of the darkness of the time as it he marketed it, or if it was all song and dance for his majority white donors. While I lean toward the latter, it's important to understand that he is an orator and professor at heart - the type of person that can play to a room full of mixed interests and bring them all on the same page.
tradecraftswithbeth's review against another edition
3.0
So much respect for the author. I can only imagine he was writing from a place of optimism and survival: physically, psychologically, and spiritually. I understand the critiques of Washington’s perspective but understanding that people-pleasing is a trauma response, it is easy to hold compassion for the author as he tries so hard to earn respect - which should have been given freely.