Booker T. Washington Libri

Booker T. Washington emerged as a prominent African American leader in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, advocating for a conciliatory approach toward the white majority. He prioritized vocational education for the black community over liberal arts and preferred behind-the-scenes influence to public protests against discrimination. While this strategy gained support from white politicians and businessmen, it sparked controversy among black intellectuals who criticized his reluctance to emphasize civil rights, fearing it would perpetuate segregation and second-class status for African Americans.

The book features a collection of historically significant texts that have become rare and valuable antiques. It aims to preserve these works for future generations by republishing them in high quality, maintaining the original text and artwork. This initiative ensures that important literary and cultural contributions are not lost to time, allowing contemporary readers to access and appreciate these classic works.

Featuring a facsimile reprint of an original antiquarian work, this edition aims to preserve and promote culturally significant literature. While it may contain imperfections typical of its age, such as marks and notations, the commitment to maintaining the integrity of the text ensures readers have access to a high-quality reproduction that honors the original. This initiative reflects a dedication to making classic works accessible and affordable for modern audiences.

This collection features three significant works by Washington, including his renowned autobiography, Up from Slavery. It also includes The Negro Problem, a compilation of essays by notable Black American writers, and The Future of the American Negro, which explores the challenges and prospects for African Americans. Additionally, the set contains a brief historical overview of slavery, originally titled The Story of Slavery, presented as an appendix. Together, these texts provide a rich exploration of race, identity, and the African American experience.

UP FROM SLAVERYThe autobiography of Booker T Washington is a startling portrait ofone of the great Americans of the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. The illegitimate son of 'a white man and a Negro slave, Washington, a man who struggled for his education, would go on to struggle for the dignity of all his people in a hostile and alien society.THE SOULS OF BLACK FOLKW.E.B. DuBois's classic is a major sociological document and one of the momentous books in the mosaic of American literature. No other work has had greater influence on black thinking, and nowhere is the African-American's unique heritage and his kinship with all men so passionately described.NARRATIVE OF THE LIFE OF FREDERICK DOUGLASSFrederick Douglass's Narrative, first published in 1845, is an enlightening and incendiary text. Born into slavery, Douglass became the preeminent spokesman for his people during his life; his narrative is an unparalleled account of the dehumanizing effects of slavery and Douglass's own triumph over it.

"I work everyday in these fields, I am ankle-deep in mud, all I smell is pattume, and in a couple of hours il vento will blow dirt and debris in my face. Next month the rains will come; they will soak me through, and I will have to carry those wet sprout sacks up and down these muddy rows. I work ten to twelve hours every day for very little money. My young son is sick and I cannot pay the doctor. My young wife is pregnant and our second baby is on its way. Where will I get the money to feed another mouth? I promised my beautiful wife an easy life in America; all she got was hard work and desperate times. If there is a God up there, why doesn't he show himself? Why doesn't he make my son well? Why doesn't he help me? I need more money! O God, if you are up there, why don't you wave your hand, and make things better for me?" Not really expecting an answer, the rancere lowered his head and with his shavola slowly returned to working the soil. Then from out of the thick, eerie mist, he thought he heard someone, perhaps a woman, say in a soft and gentle voice: "O rancere mi. Don't you know? You live su per la costa not Heaven."

First published serially in the Christian newspaper "The Outlook" in 1900, "Up from Slavery" is the classic autobiography of one of the most controversial figures in American history, Booker T. Washington. "Up from Slavery," recounts Washington's rise from a Virginia tobacco farm slave to his long standing tenure as President of the famed Tuskegee Institute of Alabama. Booker T. Washington was instrumental in helping to establish schools specializing in vocational training for minorities in order to advance their position in society by obtaining marketable skills. Washington's message was one of the advancement of African Americans through economic empowerment for as he put it, "the individual who can do something that the world wants done will, in the end, make his way regardless of his race." While he has been described as an "accommodationist" and a "calculating realist," his message of self-empowerment has been a dramatic force in the fight for racial equality and shall forever be remembered in the annals of American history. This edition is printed on premium acid-free paper.

Booker T. Washington's journey from slavery to national prominence highlights his significant role in African-American history. Born into bondage in West Virginia, he experienced the transformative impact of the Thirteenth Amendment at a young age. His rise to become a celebrated figure showcases his resilience and contributions to society, making him a pivotal character in the narrative of freedom and empowerment for African Americans.

This landmark book is a founding work in the literature of black protest. W. E. B. Du Bois (1868-1963) played a key role in developing the strategy and program that dominated early 20th-century black protest in America. In this collection of essays, first published together in 1903, he eloquently affirms that it is beneath the dignity of a human being to beg for those rights that belong inherently to all mankind. He also charges that the strategy of accommodation to white supremacy advanced by Booker T. Washington, then the most influential black leader in America, would only serve to perpetuate black oppression. Publication of The Souls of Black Folk was a dramatic event that helped to polarize black leaders into two groups: the more conservative followers of Washington and the more radical supporters of aggressive protest. Its influence cannot be overstated. It is essential reading for everyone interested in African-American history and the struggle for civil rights in America.

The omnibus edition features Booker T. Washington's pivotal works, reflecting his complex views on race relations and civil rights. "Up from Slavery" chronicles his journey from slavery to becoming a prominent educator, highlighting the broader struggles of African Americans. "My Larger Education" reveals the influences shaping his thoughts during the establishment of Tuskegee Institute. "Character Building" compiles motivational addresses aimed at students. Additionally, it includes six significant essays addressing race relations during Reconstruction, offering diverse African American perspectives.