Manifestation of Hope Booker T.

¶ … Manifestation of Hope Booker T. Washington's Autobiography, Up From Slavery

Booker T. Washington's autobiography, Up From Slavery, is an inspiring account of what one can accomplish with determination and perseverance. With a deep consideration for perseverance, the book moves through setbacks and disappointments with clarity created from determination. Washington never loses focus on what he is to do and he works diligently to educate individuals on all sides of the racial divide. Themes of perseverance, reconciliation, and hope are predominant and propel the book forward through the great achievements of Booker T. Washington's life.

Perseverance is a predominant theme in the book. Washington writes, "The work to be done in order to lift these people up seemed almost beyond accomplishing" (Washington 118). While he did not think that teaching student for a few hours a day would make much of a difference, he persevered and, as a result, saw the numbers in his classes rise. Later in the book, when Washington had to turn away students from his boarding department because they had no money, he opened a night school for some of them and they paid him "work for ten hours during the day at some trade or industry, and study academic branches for two hours during the evening" (196). Here we see examples of a man that refused to let negative circumstances get in his way.

Bring both races together is another theme in the book. Through education, Washington hopes that all men can treat one another and be treated in the same way. During his public speaking, he wanted the races to reconcile their differences and move onto better relations. He would tell groups of people that the "policy to be pursued with reference to the races was, by every honourable means, to bring them together and to encourage the cultivation of friendly relations, instead of doing that which would embitter" (201). Here we can see how Washington is utilizing his education to make illustrations and prove a point about African-Americans. He also exhibits a great deal of maturity throughout the course of the book that is commendable. Whenever he would encounter anyone that spoke negatively about his race he states that he only felt pity for the individual because he or she only wanted to "stop the progress of the world, and because I know that in time the development and the ceaseless advance of humanity will make him ashamed of his weak and narrow position" (204). This statement reflects a man that has matured and, because of his education, understands the nature of humanity.