Informative Essay On Booker T Washington

The School Doors Are Open

As of 2013, only forty-eight out of one-hundred percent of African Americans attend college (Black Demographics). This is still a tremendous amount compared to the statistics for the black people between 1891-1915 due to the lack of educational opportunities. During this time, there were circumstances restricting them from literacy, including slavery. Meaning, even if they wanted a better life for themselves it was practically impossible. Having to deal with being a slave and catering to their own families, there was no time to actually improve their education. One man who truly stood up for these people was Booker T. Washington. Fighting for the rights of African American children to have an education, Booker T. Washington and his partner, Julius Rosenwald, took a stand which was a step towards equal education for all races.

Mr. Washington did not have the ability to learn at a young age, yet he still yearned to become educated. His mother realized this and bought a

copy of a Webster’s Spelling Book. With this book, he started to study the alphabet and taught himself most of the English language. Booker T. Washington would always have the book by his side, and used it as a small sanctuary between tedious chores making sure nobody saw since slaves were not permitted to receive a formal education. Extremely close to where he lived in Tinkesville, a small school emerged(“Industrial Education for the Negro”). Booker longed to attend this school, but his stepfather wouldn't allow him. He was told that every dime earned needed to be spent to put food on the table(“Industrial Education for the Negro”). Although his dreams of education were put down by this stepfather, Booker T. Washing still refused to give up fighting. Not giving up, young Washington started to attend night school.
Progress was starting to appear in the eyes of others. Booker T. Washington’s extensive studying was starting to pay off. He taught himself how to understand letters and numbers from salt barrels where he worked. One of the salt barrels had the number eighteen on it. Washington studied this number very intricately, causing him to recognize other numbers. It was necessary for the Negro people to learn the difference between being worked and working(Edward 1994). Working meant that they were apart of civilization. If the slaves were being worked ment degradation which was the case with most Negro people. Booker believed and knew in his heart and mind that he had to become educated so he could escape. If he could escape it meant having a greater chance at a better life.
When Washington got older he really came to terms with his ideas and specific ways to put them in action.

He began taking a stand by coming up with a simple program idea, that would definitely work according to him. He started to come out with more speeches as well to support his ideas, for example. A speech was presented by Booker in 1895 which publicly announced his philosophy on race relations(Editors 2015). Booker T. Washington advocated education for all of the negro race, but mainly in African American children since they have their entire lives ahead of them. He was just as determined to find an answer to black people’s prayers as we was about learning himself. With all of this planning and listing problems, Tuskegee Institute was finally created. The first school established in Tuskegee, Alabama which was created in 1881(The Awakening of the Negro). This changed Booker’s ideas from a by-path to a veritable way of life which allowed everyone to become

educated.
Booker T. Washington’s Tuskegee Institute immediately became the leading African American school in the country under his leadership(Editors 2015). There are many places named in honor of Washington still around today such as parks and schools. There are multiple Booker T. Washington middle schools, high schools, and colleges. There is even a state park named after him. He still is causing rippling effects on our predominantly black schools today. His legacy grooms older and younger adults such as teachers, to be able to give back to their students. This is especially effective when these adults have younger children, because those same values can be instilled in the children to look forward to a successful future. A school where these ideas are being put into practice is Dillard Elementary. Their school principal Mrs. Gretchen Atkins-Brown believes that by Booker T. Washington being an African American role model and someone that has most definitely impacted her school in particular. It is possible for people to actually take on some of his principals to help the world go even further in educational progression(Atkins-Brown 2016).
Booker always had a passion to learn, but never officially got the chance to, due to him being born as a slave. Before the Booker T. Washington institute African American children were not able to successfully receive an excellent education. The founding of his institute created a rippling effect that is still around today. People are reminded of his movement daily, and do not even realize it. Such as going to school and seeing people of all races. Booker T. Washington and Julius Rosenwald both took stands to fight for the rights African American children to have an equal education just like the kids around them.