Booker T. Washington, born into slavery in 1859, became a notable civil rights leader and the first leader of the Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute, where he focused on education and economic progress for African Americans. Despite his achievements and the Atlanta Compromise in 1895, he faced criticism from contemporaries for his acceptance of discrimination and emphasis on economic advancement over direct political action. Washington's legacy is significant, as he raised substantial funds for African American education and authored 14 books, impacting civil rights discourse even today.

1. BOOKERT
WASHINGTON
ByWill S andTom H

2. Background
■ Born into slavery April 8 1859
■ He never new his father (said to
be a white man who lived on a
neighbouring plantation, the
never played an emotional or
financial role
■ He worked in salt furnaces and
coal mines
■ Attended the Hampton Institute
and later theWayland Seminary

3. The Atlanta Compromise
■ The Atlanta Compromise was
an agreement in 1895
■ This was between BookerT
himself, the president of
Tuskegee university, other
African American leaders and
southern white leaders
■ “No race can prosper till it learns
that there is as much dignity in
tilling a field as in writing a

4. Tuskegee University
■ 1881, Hampton Institute
president Samuel C. Armstrong,
recommended Washington (25)
to become the first leader of the
Tuskegee Normal and Industrial
Institute
■ The year after,Washington
purchased a former plantation
and his students literally built
their school out of bricks and
making classrooms

5. Achievements
■ First leader of theTuskegee
University
■ Gained national fame after the
Atlanta compromise
■ Taught himself how to read and
write and wrote 14 books
■ He had gained an endowment of
over $2 million by his death
■ Progression of education for blacks
in the South

6. Failures/criticisms
■ BookerTWashington was criticized by many black leaders at the time because he accepted
discrimination too easily. He tried to get black African Americans to start businesses and
progress economically which he believed would be what ended segregation instead of fighting
against the segregation that was going on.
■ As the most powerful black leader in America at the time he may have found it easier than some
others and as he was very popular with northern whites in America he may have had to deal
with less ‘segregation’ than some others would have had.Therefore many black African
Americans who found it hard to create businesses because they had so little money and
education didn’t like that he kept pushing for this because it would have been very difficult for
them to do.

7. Overall assessment
■ BookerTWashington had a big impact on Civil rights in America
■ He came from nothing to be on of the most important Civil rights leaders in America and spent
his whole life fighting to improve the lives of African Americans.
■ He created a school and raised lots of money to help educate African Americans who otherwise
would not have had the chance to learn which has helped generations of African Americans.
■ He gave speeches and wrote books that changed how African Americans were seen and are still
being read today.
■ Even though he was unpopular with some, he still did good for African Americans and helped a
lot of people who suffered segregation in America.