Education was one of many important life skills to Washington, and therefore he opened up the Tuskegee Institute. Throughout his life, Washington was always endeavoring to get a better education, obtain more knowledge, and educate others. He began to push away his past of slavery by creating his full name so that he would be equal with his classmates and accomplish getting an equal education. This was one of the first events in his life that truly brought him “up from slavery”. Washington quickly thought of a solution that is stated in the quote, “An idea occurred to me which I thought would make me equal to the situation and so, when the teacher asked me what my full name was, I calmly told him ‘Booker Washington’, as if I had been called by that name all my life” (Washington 17). During that time most slaves only had one name, while others had two or three parts to their names. Upon going to the schoolhouse for the first time, Washington discovered a difficulty that seemed to separate him from the rest of his classmates.

Give us your paper requirements, choose a writer and we’ll deliver the highest-quality essay! Order now One of his earliest forms of education was in a schoolhouse in Kanawha Valley, Virginia. Washington desired after he and his family were freed from their plantation following the Civil War. An education was one of the first things Booker T. Many readers could argue the significance of the title of Washington’s autobiography and how it helps readers understand the works underlying theme, however, upon closer examination of the work as a whole, it is evident that Washington wanted to inspire people to see how an education can transform someone’s life and help them be of value in their community. Why then does he title his autobiography Up from Slavery even though slavery is hardly ever mentioned?

In his book, Washington only talks about his childhood as a slave in one chapter, while the remainder of the story describes his life after slavery. The autobiography starts from the time he was a slave in Virginia to his lifelong journey of striving to get an education and sharing that knowledge with other young African Americans.

Washington’s autobiography Up from Slavery recounts his remarkable life as an African American during the Civil War.

Booker t washington's up from slavery