Thoughts on "Up from Slavery"

     While reading Booker T. Washington's "Up From Slavery," I found several of his ideas and approaches to African American equality very interesting, incorporating unique concepts worth mentioning. In my past I have studied the activities of various other notable African American figures including Dr. King, Malcolm X, Frederick Douglass, Althea Gibson, the "Little Rock Nine," George Washington Carver, Thurgood Marshall, and others. Never before have I come across the similar ideology expressed by Washington regarding the advancement of his race.

     His staunch belief that African Americans could achieve equal civil rights and domestic tranquility through a rise in economic status has both confounded and perplexed me. His logic makes sense, people who have a stable economic foundation are more likely to be respected, even feared by political individuals. Some may even argue that having wealth can provide more happiness and civil liberties than political rights alone. Just being a capable businessman illicits several diverse skills and therefore one whith such abilities might be recognized by his or her superiors. However, it is no secret that political rights and economic freedom go hand in hand. How can one maintain a successful career if certain career options are not even available? Washington did indeed speak of granting blacks greater opportunity in the job market though I cannot say he campaigned for such rights. For Washington's plan at overall African American liberty to succeed it would have been necessary to assure blacks a foothold in the American economy before stressing them the importance of "casting their bucket" a phrase Washington uses frequently.

     Besides Washington's own ideology I found it rather astonishing (but definitely reassuring) that several Caucasian people at the time were able to recognize his brilliance. In his work, he recalls the masses of people who wanted to shake hands with him after his speech at the Exposition including many influential men such as Governor Bullock himself. What's more, his address became published in many well known U.S. papers and even sent a copy to President Grover Cleveland, a notable achievement indeed. But I found most surprising his appointment to the Department of Education in Atlanta. This shows how a white man with considerable authority sought the skill and wisdom of an articulate black man. It shows how Washington rose to an extremely important career which would give him the opportunity to prove black men were neither superior nor inferior to white men. Most importantly, it shows the beginning of the end of racism.

     I would highly recommend that anyone who has read this work or has not read it go,(re)read, and focus on Washington's logic, he provides several other excellent statements that I did not list above. Yes, some of his words are boring, but those which relate directly to the end of black strife are very important; most pertaining to all races.