#3 Booker T. Washington - Never Judge A Book By Its Cover

Bila Lee
English 48B
January 15, 2009
Journal #3 Booker T. Washington

Quote
“I used to envy the white boy who had no obstacles placed in the way of his becoming a Congressman, Governor, Bishop, or President by reason of the accident of his birth or race” (Washington 679).

Summary
The quote was narrated by Booker T. Washington in his autobiography titled, “From Up from Slavery” (Note: Chapter II). In the Civil War period, colored people were slaves for the privileged whites, and this injustice phenomenon was observed until Lincoln freed the slaves. Thereafter, Booker T. Washington received proper education and contributed a lot to the African American society in terms of inspiring speeches and altruistic commitment. He was considered the most influential figure of race relations in the United States (Baym 663) in his time; however, he could not deny the fact that colored people were still facing numerous obstacles, solely because of their genes.

Responses
Booker T. Washington, in his inspiring autography, “From Up from Slavery,” completely disclosed how colored people were mentally tortured during the Civil War period. They worked to serve the whites at the expense of their [the colored people] normal lives. For example, Washington’s stepfather was at home only once a year; and later when the family moved to Malden, he did not allow Booker Washington to attend regular day school because the stepfather “could not spare [Booker] from work” (Washington 676). Little talented Washington failed to hide his disappointment that his mother arranged a night schedule for him to receive education – and I think the moving the clock hands incident was interesting enough to display his eagerness to learn and his daring combined with superior judgment.

In fact, Washington had devoted his life to education. As stated in Wikipedia, “Washington believed that education was a crucial key to African American citizens rising within the social and economic structure of the United States” (Wikipedia), thus he made every endeavor to nurture the next generation as a teacher, and build Tuskegee Institute as the Principal. He dreamed to supply the best educational resources to colored people to equip their knowledge, to create their civil mind and to equalize them to the privileged whites. Booker Washington was literally a hero to the black society – not only did his speech delivered in the Atlantic Exposition energize the Negro but also impress the whites, the power elites and two American Presidents. Nevertheless, how many colored people could achieve what Mr. Booker T. Washington had accomplished?

According to our text, the public as well as the media seemed to be deeply inspired by Washington; but, ironically, the Jim Crow Day, the Civil Rights movement and segregation schools were still existed in the American History. The whites turned a deaf ear, or simply in one ear and out the other, to Washington’s appeal basically because they were uncivilized and shallow that they judged a book simply by its cover.

Fortunately, the colored glasses against colored people are gradually torn off today. In fact, more and more black people are playing an influential role in our society – some are successful billionaires, popular pop stars, energetic athletes, wise Congressmen or Governors, mighty Bishops...and one of them will be Mr. President next Tuesday!

I think the contributions of all colored people suffered in the old days, Booker T. Washington, Martin Luther King Jr., and not to mention Barack Obama are equally important to create a new page for human history.