Black History: Booker T. Washington

Booker T. Washington could be regarded as one of the most important black figures in American history, in fact, let’s go ahead and categorize him as just that. Washington, born 1856, was a prominent black educator that would go on to redefine the black community for centuries.

An educator; orator, and an author, he also served as advisor to several Presidents. By 1915, he was regarded as one of the most dominant figures in the African American community.

• Booker T. Washington helped co-found the National Negro Business League.
• During the 20th century, he was a staunch supporter and key player in helping form black businesses and ensuring they were appropriately addressed in society.
• Washington was born to his mother, Jane, who at the time of his birth was indeed enslaved by white members of society.
• Washington was born on a plantation owned by James Burroughs.
• In 1865, Washington and his family managed to flee slavery by moving to West Virginia. At the same time that year, the Emancipation Proclamation had been born.
• Perhaps this particular speech in 1865 Atlanta Georgia is one of his most famous moments — and — one of the defining for African American rights.
• Booker T. Washington died of congestive heart failure on 14 November 1915. He is buried near the University Chapel on the grounds of Tuskegee University.

Notable moments:

Despite staunch opposition from state and local governments during his lifetime, Washington, managed to convince wealthy white people to invest in black schools. In fact, he would on to have them donate millions, millions, that he would shuffle across the south to allocate to schools across the region.