Up From Slavery (Unabridged)

Written by Booker T. Washington

Narrated by Sam Kusi

Up from Slavery is the 1901 autobiography of American educator Booker T. Washington (1856-1915). The book describes his personal experience of having to work to rise up from the position of a slave child during the Civil War, to the difficulties and obstacles he overcame to get an education at the new Hampton Institute, to his work establishing vocational schools-most notably the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama-to help black people and other disadvantaged minorities learn useful, marketable skills and work to pull themselves, as a race, up by the bootstraps. He reflects on the generosity of both teachers and philanthropists who helped in educating blacks and Native Americans. He describes his efforts to instill manners, breeding, health and a feeling of dignity to students. His educational philosophy stresses combining academic subjects with learning a trade (something which is reminiscent of the educational theories of John Ruskin). Washington explained that the integration of practical subjects is partly designed to reassure the white community as to the usefulness of educating black people.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bookstream Audiobooks
• Release date: Jan 15, 2021
• ISBN: 9783990869895

Booker T. Washington

Born into slavery, Booker T. Washington (1856–1915) went on to become an American educator, author, and adviser to the presidents of the United States. As a self-educated man, Washington believed in accessible education for the post-slavery black community. In 1881, Washington became the first leader of the Tuskegee Institute, an all-black school. In 1895, due to lynching plaguing the South, Washington gave his infamous “Atlanta Compromise” speech, which brought him national recognition. Washington became a seminal leader in the field of Black politics, working with communities to build schools and churches despite the criticism he faced for his involvement with prominent white leaders. His prolific writing career includes fourteen books, most notably Up from Slavery and The Future of the American Negro.