UP FROM SLAVERY Paperback – 25 July 2012

Booker T. Washington: once a slave, beat down and told he could do nothing, accomplish nothing; now an example to all men, white and colored, raised above others. Why? Hard work and a desire to do good in this world. He accomplished more than a lot, from getting into a school by sweeping and cleaning a room, to teaching at a night school, to starting Tuskegee, to speaking at huge events at which no black man had ever spoken. He met great men, did great things, built a great community, and loved greatly.He wrote this autobiography about his truly great life. He wrote it simply, giving facts in a very interesting way (one thing that he felt was important while giving speeches). I had a hard time staying interested because I was very busy while reading it and felt like I had to rush to get it done. However, I liked it enough to know that I’ll read it again in a less-busy time and really immerse myself in it. There’s so much to learn, so much to discover in a life like Washington’s. While reading it I couldn’t help but be thankful for everything in my life. I was born with many luxuries given to me. Booker T. Washington started out with the clothes on his back and a dirt floor to sleep on. Education was a piece of paradise to him; food was a luxury beyond all comparison. I have always had both of those, in abundance.One word to describe this book would be thankful. Not the word I would normally use to describe a book, but really, it is. Booker T. Washington’s thanks resonates throughout the whole story. Even when he was hungry and on the streets – I could almost taste his thanks whenever he’d receive a meal or a warm place to stay.Wonderful. Recommended to all who love a good autobiography, and even to those who don’t.

Quality of the package & the narrative of the autobiography is interesting...👍😏

"Received the book in good condition and was neatly packed. This book is a good read. Based on a true story - its a great inspirational event of how a man came up from slavery and made HISTORY! - Go ahead and read it - Cheers"

Good book. Given all types of questions

Great read !!

Nice and good story...

Good book

This is a must book for every student and young person.Great motivational book for weaker sections

Mankind, for the most part, has the innate ability to succeed in any endeavour. Some, for example, Booker T. Washington, are blessed with the desire and, therefore, the motivation to succeed. I will read this book again

I have to say I was pleasantly surprised at how refreshing it was to hear a larger-than-life story about a man who simply worked his way into the upper eschalances of society. The humility that Booker had was second to none. The vision and faith he had was second to none when you look at where he came from. Truly a miraculous story I realize that anything is possible in life when you have humility and no fear to work hard and put yourself in a situation where you could fail. A fantastic story and a must read for anyone looking for the secret to happiness and success in life.

It is common to compare Booker T. Washington unfavorably to other African American leaders or thinkers of his time or even of our own. I believe this book will help correct this. Washington, a former slave, was trying to redeem a poorly educated community and to free it from the mindset resulting from centuries of slavery and mistreatment. He wanted above all to inculcate a sense of self-reliance and a new work ethic in former slaves understandably averse to work. To this effect, he founded the Tuskegee Institute (now Tuskegee University), which provided vocational training, rather than intellectual training. Washington was severely criticized for this, and for the "Atlanta Compromise" speech to a white audience in 1895 (With an open hand: "In all matters that are purely social, we can be as separate as the fingers." With a clenched fist: "Yet one as a hand when it comes to mutual progress.") .Yes, we feel uncomfortable when we think about any limitation in the path of African Americans to economic progress and leading an unrestricted life. But Booker T. Washington was above all realistic, and this memoir shows the kind of obstacles he had to overcome. Thanks to his efforts, supported by such philanthropists as Julius Rosenwald (of Sears Roebuck) and others, a very large number of African Americans had access to a dignified livelihood. As a result of such initiatives, African Americans managed, just a few decades after the end of slavery, in spite of the Jim Crow legislation in place, in spite of lynchings, in spite of a whole system rigged against them, to move little by little up the social ladder, take advantage of manpower needs in fast-growing Northern industries, and enrich American culture in the arts, music, literature and other areas beyond all expectations.Even the Tuskegee Institute evolved over the years and decades. George Washington Carver, one of the greatest scientists in the history of the United States (and also a former slave) taught there for almost half a century.Even as he tried to improve the lot of African Americans, even as he tried to push them hard to do their best at all times, Washington never failed to remind white America of the enormous difficulties his "coloured brethren" had to overcome. A short excerpt from this book should prove the point:"The world should not pass judgment upon the Negro, and especially the Negro youth, too quickly or too harshly. The Negro boy has obstacles, discouragements, and temptations to battle with that are little known to those not situated as he is. When a white boy undertakes a task, it is taken for granted that he will succeed. On the other hand, people are usually surprised if the Negro boy does not fail. In a word, the Negro youth starts out with the presumption against him."The influence of ancestry, however, is important in helping forward any individual or race, if too much reliance is not placed upon it. Those who constantly direct attention to the Negro youth's moral weaknesses, and compare his advancement with that of white youths, do not consider the influence of the memories which cling about the old family homesteads. I have no idea, as I have stated elsewhere, who my grandmother was. I have, or have had, uncles and aunts and cousins, but I have no knowledge as to where most of them are. My case will illustrate that of hundreds of thousands of black people in every part of our country. The very fact that the white boy is conscious that, if he fails in life, he will disgrace the whole family record, extending back through many generations, is of tremendous value in helping him to resist temptations. The fact that the individual has behind and surrounding him proud family history and connection serves as a stimulus to help him to overcome obstacles when striving for success."In the long view of history, we tend to agree more with W. E. B. Du Bois (a giant in his own right), who thought African Americans had every right to study in classical academic courses instead of vocational, agriculture-oriented programs. But history is made (or takes place, if you will) step by step, and there should be no doubt today that Booker T. Washington made a major, perhaps an unparalleled contribution to the advancement of his race. And for this, we should all, African Americans or not, Americans or not, be profoundly grateful and motivated.I hope only that the excerpt quoted above, one of the most moving I have ever read about the entire African American experience, will inspire everyone to read this book and learn from Booker T. Washington's own words.

As someone who knew very little about this man, after reading this book I can honestly say that it is a must read. To start as slave and have the drive to work his way up and pursue education to a level which would present him with the opportunity of running a school to help his people... With the aim of teaching them to earn respect through acquiring a craft, a good work ethic and an education. Although his life's work was to progress the black race and help them to be seen on equal terms as a white race in terms of ability, intelligence and the contribution they can make for the country as a whole if given the chance, he never looked to say a bad word against the people who were once his master's and in turn rather promoted unity between the races. There are lots of valuable lessons in this book no matter who you are.. I thoroughly enjoyed it

Pourquoi ça prend aussi temps pour recevoir mon livre Up tfrom he Slavery?Normalement c'est plus rapide. Je n'ai pas encore d'expérience avec le livre raison pour laquelle je suis anxieux pour pouvoir lire mon lore qui prend du temps à arriver. Quand même je vousdonne 5 étoiles avec l'exectatove de recevoir demain mn livre.cordialementjmatos