The Story of My Life and Work

By Booker T. Washington

Booker T. Washington, born in 1865 in Virginia to an enslaved mother and a white father, tells the story of his experiences after the abolition of slavery and his struggle to succeed in life with a newly-found freedom. This autobiographical work by Booker T. Washington is an historical archive of paramount importance, as it sheds light on the issues of slavery, race, the Reconstruction period after the Civil War of 1861 and the impact of all these on a man’s life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Antiquarius
• Release date: Sep 12, 2020
• ISBN: 9781647982829

Booker T. Washington

Booker T. Washington (1856–1915) was a prominent figure in the African American community and a champion of higher education. He was born into slavery and obtained freedom shortly after the Emancipation Proclamation. As a child, he worked manual jobs to help support his family, but aspired to receive a formal education. He enrolled in Hampton Normal Agricultural Institute in Virginia and thrived as a student. After graduating, Washington embarked on a career as a lecturer and leader of the Tuskegee Institute. He also worked as a political advisor to presidents Theodore Roosevelt and William Taft.

Reviews for The Story of My Life and Work

[histreader · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I expected this to be a re-hash of Up From Slavery, but was glad to see it was more than an addendum to, what turns out to be, an slightly abridged memoirs. This book is a greatly expounded upon version of his first book but continues where Up From Slavery left off. A truly humble man, he did not seem to be stifling an urge to be self-congratulatory; rather, he gives all the accolades to his students and those who helped increase the size of the Institute he established. Similarly, he is in awe of the audience of his speech at the 1895 Cotton States and International Exposition, he is excited about his performance but applauds the acceptance he garnered from those in attendance.Booker T. Washington is maligned by many who tend to be more militaristic, but his story proves one need not be aggressive and confrontational to advance a groups betterment.