Up From Slavery

Author: Booker Tallaferro Washington

Title: Up from Slavery

Publisher: Penguin books reprint 1986

Booker T. Washington "Up from Slavery", was compilation of short autobiographical articles initially published in the Outlook (published between November 3, 1900 to February 23, 1901) magazine. In an earlier memoir, Washington's wrote "The Story of My Life and Work"; which, had limited success in the black community, and was general a disappointment to Washington. Oddly enough, Washington blamed the first autobiography failure on an unnamed black ghostwriter, while employing a white ghostwriter a Vermonter, Max Bennett Thrasher for his next offering.

The narrative begins with Booker T. Washington's recollection of his first memories of plantation life in 1858 or 1859. Washington describes how he and other slaves felt sorrow for a young master that has been killed and others masters wounded during the Civil War. Even before emancipation of the blacks, Washington demonstrated his capacity for logic and forgiveness.

After the emancipation, Washington describes the bewilderment felt by many blacks due to their new found freedom. Washington explains how the lack of a traditional family structure and the subsequent weak societal network added to the black family dilemma. Washington along with his family relocated to West Virginia at the request of his stepfather. Washington's semi-formal education period began.

The narrative chronicles Washington experiences at Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute in Hampton Virginia, including his rudimentary entry test, the cleaning of the recitation room. Washington recognized that giving your best at all times was important for success, an outright requirement for a black man success. This theme was reinforced many times in his writing and Washington voiced frustration in his people for not understanding the importance of this theory. His life's mission was centered on instilling an intrinsic can-do sprit