Booker T. Washington was born into slavery in 1858. As a slave Booker did not have a last name and chose "Washington," his stepfather's name. After the Civil War Booker, his brother, and his mother moved to Malden, West Virginia were they went to live with his stepfather, whom they had only seen a few times. When they arrived in Walden, Washington was no more than 10 years old. However, he immediately went to work with his stepfather at the salt mines feeding the furnace. His education started with a Webster's "Blue Black" spelling book that his mother had provided him. She hoped it would help him to learn to lead. Washington was unable to do much reading at home because he would work from dawn until around 9:00 at night, but during his breaks he would study his reading book teaching himself how to read. While working at the salt mines a local school opened up for black people. Unfortunately Washington was unable to attend the school because of his value to his family

It was Washington's non-threatening racial views that got him the appellation "The Great Accomodater". Washington felt that blacks should earn their political and civil rights by improving their economic skills and the quality of their character. Putting the burden of improvement on the shoulders of the black men. If they were to work hard enough and prove their selves they would be able to gain the political and civil rights from the white man. His view on integration consisted of living by example. Washington felt that if black people were to show white people that they could be civilized and be an asset to the community all races would eventually be able to get along. He didn't think that the government could force one race to accept another with the stroke of a pen. At the time when black leaders rejected laws and traditions which discriminated against African Americans, Washington spoke in favor of cooperation. In Atlanta, Georgia in 1883 Washington said "In all things that are purely social we can be separate as the fingers, yet as the hand in all things essential to mutual progress." This would become known as the "Atlanta Compromise" and denounced Washington's emphasis of

At the conclusion of the speech the audience applauded wildly. After reading the speech, President Cleveland wrote Washington and thanked him for what he had said. The next year Washington was honored at Harvard University with an honorary master's degree.

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Approximate Word count = 3031
Approximate Pages = 12 (250 words per page double spaced)