Inadequate Social Change of Booker T. Washington

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There has been much debate over Booker T. Washington and the effectiveness of his work at Tuskegee Institute. Some believe that he was a pioneer for black education in a time when few had the opportunity. Others believe that his conformity to the white ideal of what a black man should be hindered his ability to create real social change for his race. In his autobiography, Up From Slavery, Washington maps out his life from its humble beginnings as a slave up through the success of his school, Tuskegee Institute. He is quick to drop names of the important white businessmen and prominent citizens to ensure their support for his school. However, he is also quick to push his students to be productive members of their society. Through closer examination, can Washington's true views shine through? Did he win victories for his race through playing by the rules of white society or did he give in to their demands in pursuit of his own glory and "savior" status? Perhaps no one will ever know what was truly in his heart, but his public actions did not incite severe, complete, lasting social revelations for his African American brothers.

In his Tuskegee school, he promoted the value of labor and hard work. The students built every building on the campus and took pride in their labor. They learned to read and write and many other industrial skills while working around the campus. Washington stated in his autobiography,

My plan was to have them, while performing this service, taught the latest and best methods of labor, so that the school would not only get the benefit of their efforts, but the students themselves would be taught to see not only utility of labor, but beauty and dignity (Washington 103).

Washington restricted t...

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...ar that his intentions might have been good but his execution came out weak as he allowed himself to get consumed with desires for power and recognition. In the end, he became known in history as an "Uncle Tom" figure and unable to create any lasting change. But perhaps, his failure was essential to the development of the 1960's Civil Rights Movement. Leaders of that time saw his weaknesses and this time they would not make the same mistakes. They learned through Booker T. Washington's experience that playing by the white man's rules and moving up the ladder of their system would not give them the freedom they sought. Washington provided the experience needed to allow leaders that followed him to be successful in their fight for freedom.

Works Cited

Washington, Booker. Up From Slavery: The Autobiography Of Booker T. Washington: Aun Autobiography. Citadel, 2001.

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