Up from slavery is more than an autobiography. It is a lesson in profound wisdom and forgiveness by a man who transcends his passage from a youngster born into slavery. Booker escapes not only the poverty and ignorance (i.e book learning) that he inherited from a brutal institution, but he rises above the bitterness and resentment that most of us would excuse given his circumstances and is sadly the recourse of too many of our own generation who have made racism and hatred their pedigree.
He makes a decision to look for the good where and in whomever ever he may find it. I have heard it said that he is not highly esteemed among some in the African American community because he chose not to resent and hate those who enslaved him. He sees those who thought they could own another man as victims of their own warped sensibilities. He sought to uplift all men by elevating himself and those he influenced to be of such value and merit to their community that any man would respect their contribution.
His mindset reminded me in many ways of Martin Luther King, Jr who believed that men should be judged by the content of their character and not by the color of their skin.
Booker T Washington was an extraordinary man who achieved the goals he set for himself despite challenges, prejudice, setbacks and fatigue. He became the kind of man he was certain would be respected by all men of good faith and his life proved the wisdom of his ideas. A great read. Highly recommended
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Reviews with images
BE INDISPENSABLE
One the most amazing and inspirational books in print.Booker T. Washington describes his existence as a slave, his harsh early life as a free man, his efforts to get an education, and his long and prolific tenure as the Director of the Tuskegee Institute.The turning point in his life, which he often refers to, came when he had no money to attend the Hampton Institute. Desperate for an education, his only hope was to get a job with the Institute to defray his education costs. He is asked to sweep and dust a schoolroom, as a test to see if he could be a responsible member of the Institute.Washington observed, “I felt that my whole future life depended upon the thoroughness with which I cleaned that room, and I was determined to do it so well that no one could find any fault with the job.”This attitude fueled his view of life and how the Negro race would achieve recognition and success.Washington said, “Any man, regardless of color, will be recognized and rewarded just in proportion as he learns to do something well, leans to do it better than someone else-however humble the thing may be . I believe that my race will succeed in proportion as it learns to do a common thing in an uncommon manner, learns to do a thing so thoroughly that no one can improve upon what it has done, learns to make its services of indispensable value.”Washington writes in a deep, thoughtful style. It’s evident, that he spent hours elegantly crafting each sentence, expressing just the exact color and tone desired.He describes, in fascinating detail, his effort to develop a school from the ground up, his many travels, north and south, to raise money for the school, and his invitations to speak in far-flung venues. He expresses deep felt gratitude for the exceptional people that came into his life and provided help to him at critical times.This is a life well lived.Up From Slavery leaves me a warm feeling in my heart.
Top reviews from other countries
yanxin yang
You can learn a great lot from his story and especially in such time ...
Reviewed in Canada on July 19, 2016
Jennifer M Totton
An excellent and intriguing book.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 2, 2013
