Booker T. Washington

Born: 1856 in Virginia

Died: 1915

Became an educator, author and orator who had to go to work at only 9 years old to support his poor family.

His mother saw his interest in education & got him a few books, even though it was illegal to teach a slave to read & write… but he still got up every morning at 4 am to study!

Once walked 500 miles to Virginia to to attend Agriculture school and worked as a janitor.

The Headmaster noticed his perseverance & offered him a scholarship.

Had philosophy that African Americans had to prove their worth to whites.

Wrote 14 books including his autobiography Up from Slavery about his personal battles.

Said: “If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else.”