Up from Slavery by Booker T. Washington

Born in a Virginia slave hut, Booker T. Washington (1856–1915) rose to become the most influential spokesman for African Americans of his day. In this eloquently written book, he describes events in a remarkable life that began in bondage and culminated in worldwide recognition for his many accomplishments.

In simply written yet stirring passages, Washington tells of his impoverished childhood and youth, the unrelenting struggle for an education, early teaching assignments and his selection in 1881 to head Tuskegee Institute. A firm believer in the value of education as the best route to advancement, Washington disapproved of civil rights agitation, a stance that earned him the opposition of many black intellectuals of his era. Yet he is regarded today as a major figure in the struggle for equal rights, one who founded a number of organizations to further the cause and worked tirelessly to educate and unite African Americans.

This book is featured on The Book Club with Michael Knowles, PragerU's show dedicated to the great books of Western civilization. In this episode, Michael Knowles is joined by Dr. Carol Swain to examine Washington's life through the lens of his autobiography and to explore what his story offers toward the question of racial reconciliation in America today.

📺 Watch the episode: Carol Swain — Up from Slavery by Booker T. Washington

Read Booker T. Washington's own account of rising from bondage to national influence, and discover why his story of perseverance and self-reliance still resonates today.