Booker T. Washington. I remember his name from school, but like so many other names, stories, and facts I can no longer recall all of the details. But the information at the “Booker T. Washington National Monument” in Virginia would fill in my knowledge gaps.
Washington was born on this property as a slave in 1856. Nine years later he heard the Emancipation Proclamation being read and left to begin a new, free life with his family in West Virginia.
Booker T. Washington’s Journey
In his early years on the plantation in Virginia, he carried the books of his master’s daughter to school. Despite his own eagerness to learn, it was illegal for him to attend school. He later said, “I had the feeling that to get into a schoolhouse and study would be about the same as getting into paradise.”
Booker would take one step into paradise in West Virginia when he started attending school – but not until after working a 4 am shift in the salt mines each day. When he was 16 he headed back to Virginia to Hampton Institute. His money soon ran out on the trains so he walked the remainder of the 500 mile journey. Arriving in town with no money, he slept under a bridge and worked unloading ships until the head teacher of Hampton finally agreed to admit him.
Despite his difficult path to Hampton Institute, he later became a teacher there. At the recommendation of a Hampton colleague he was named principal of Tuskegee Institute in Alabama in 1881. At Tuskegee he not only educated his students but molded them with his philosophy of labor and hard work being central to self-reliance. In fact in the early years of Tuskegee he and the students built the buildings on their campus by hand – including making the bricks! “Giving people ownership” is a common buzzphrase in business today. Clearly Washington understood this idea. What better way for his students to invest in their education and institution than by physically building it themselves? His students were given both an education and trade skills.
Booker T. Washington died in 1915 at the age of 59. His unquenched thirst for education in the first 9 years of his life shaped the next 50. His hard work and courage began to paint a brighter future for his race. According to the National Park Service, “Booker T. Washington is best remembered for helping black Americans rise up from the economic slavery that held them down long after they were legally free citizens.”
Visiting Booker T. Washington National Monument
Visiting this park made me feel grateful — and lazy. Grateful for all of the opportunities I’ve been given in my life. But also lazy because of how little I’ve accomplished so far. I not only want to take advantage of the opportunities I have, but I want to help others create a better life for themselves. Together we’ll build a better world for all of us. Too big of a dream? Too idealistic? I’m sure that’s what people told a 9 year old slave in 1865 too.
For inspiration, learn more about Booker T. Washington. You can start here with the National Park Service: http://www.nps.gov/bowa/index.htm
One thought on “From Carrying Books to Writing Books: Booker T. Washington National Monument”
Pretty cool guy huh. I remember reading about him in school too. Just walking 500 miles to get somewhere is to be admired!
Audacious dreams are good. Thank goodness there is a pretty big God to help us fulfill them too.