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A review by thehappybooker
Up from Slavery by Booker T. Washington
5.0
How much more would we value our education if we had built the school with our own hands, from foundation stones to hand-split shingles? How much more would we be fearless in the face of injustice if we had seen the worst injustice and survived?
Some people say that "Up From Slavery" is too conciliatory and too willing to let the past remain in the past, or too willing to attribute success solely to hard work and persistence rather than these factors plus fair winds of fortunate timing and help that was denied to so many other former slaves who did not "make good" as Booker T. Washington did. These may be legitimate complaints, but I think he wrote it the way he wanted to, and that was his right.
Some people say that "Up From Slavery" is too conciliatory and too willing to let the past remain in the past, or too willing to attribute success solely to hard work and persistence rather than these factors plus fair winds of fortunate timing and help that was denied to so many other former slaves who did not "make good" as Booker T. Washington did. These may be legitimate complaints, but I think he wrote it the way he wanted to, and that was his right.