Overview of Booker T. Washington
Booker T. Washington was a noble and educated American educator and reformer. He was also the first president of the Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute. Booker T. Washington was also called the principal developer of the same Institute (now called the Tuskegee University).
This university is also one of the most influential universities, where he was the spokesman for Black Americans. It was exclusively reflective between 1895 and 1915. Booker T. Washington was iconic and was enrolled in the Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute.
This is called Hampton University today in Virginia. Booker T. Washington worked as a janitor to help with his expenses in 1872. The educator graduated in 1875 and went back to Malden, West Virginia.
Here, Booker T. Washington taught children in a day school and adults in the evening.
(Image Credit: Library of Congress)
Why Did Booker T. Washington Establish Tuskegee Institute?
- Booker T. Washington founded the school in 1881.
- Here, he served as the principal until he died in 1915.
- At the Tuskegee Institute, he used to teach Washington’s principles. These included practical training for African Americans on how to develop economic self-reliance.
- This was done through mastering manual trades and manual assets like agricultural practices.
About Booker T. Washington
- Booker Taliaferro Washington is sometimes known as Booker T. Washington. He was born on the 5th of April, 1856, in Franklin County, Virginia, in the United States of America.
- The educator died on the 14th of November, 1915, in Tuskegee, Alabama. He was a well-established educator and reformer. Booker T. Washington became the first president and developer of the Institute (today called Tuskegee University).
- Booker T. Washington was the most influential spokesman who worked exclusively to develop, educate, and reform American blacks.
- Black Americans were marginalized then, and the educator worked for their self-reliance and education between 1895 and 1915.
- Booker T. Washington was born in a slave hut and was poor. After emancipation, he relocated to Malden, West Virginia, with his family.
- The educator and reformer couldn’t get regular schooling. The family was poor and faced many problems. Booker T. Washington didn’t give up even at the age of 9. He began working.
- The educator worked at a salt furnace and also got his hands on a coal mine. Booker T. Washington didn’t want to give up on his education and stood determined.
- He was motivated to get educated and enrolled in the Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute (now called Hampton University).
- Booker T. Washington worked as a janitor to pay his university fees and graduated in 1875.
- The reformer returned to Malden and taught children for two years every day. He also educated adults at night and made them realize the value of SELF-WORTH.
- Later, Booker T. Washington joined the staff of Hampton, where he was studying at Wayland Seminary in Washington. He started in 1878 and completed the course in 1879.
Reforms
- The educator was selected to head a newly made African American school. This was established in Tuskegee with small converted buildings.
- The school has no equipment with little money.
- Booker T. Washington gave his soul to the Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute- it became a monument of his work. People still recognize the Institute by its name.
Final Thoughts
Booker T. Washington taught children the value of education and how to live in tough times. He was a clean example of sacrifices, dedication, and passion for education. He made sure to imbibe the same values as the African Americans.
After 34 years of the death of Booker T. Washington, the school is well-equipped. It has 100 well-maintained buildings with more than 1500 students. The faculty at service is around 200, with 38 trades and professions. There is an endowment of approximately 2 million American dollars.
Booker T. Washington believed in craft and industrial skills. He believed that the cultivation of virtues of enterprise, thrift, and patience are met in these skills.
Black people are blessed with the same and should work on their assets. He wanted to educate the illiterate and impoverished blacks.
