Up From Slavery

An Inspiring Story of Dedication and Character

I became interested in Booker T. Washington after reading Guest of Honor by Deborah Davis, which is the story of his historic dinner with President Theodore Roosevelt at the White House. This book chronicles his rise from slavery, to his role in establishing the iconic Tuskegee Institute (a historically Black university) in Alabama, to becoming one of the most influential African American educators of the early 20th century. His journey is a truly inspiring story of hard work, dedication, faith and character. In my opinion, this book is also a fascinating historic account, which highlights the struggles of African Americans immediately following their emancipation, as they attempted to forge a path from slavery to citizenship. Although free, it was a time fraught with fear, anxiety, and desperation as they worked to become educated, earn a livelihood, and carve out a stable life in a society that was often hostile toward their advancement.