Up from Slavery

By: Booker T. Washington

Narrated by: Andrew L. Barnes

Up from Slavery is the 1901 autobiography of Booker T. Washington detailing his slow and steady rise from a slave child during the Civil War, to the difficulties and obstacles he overcame to get an education at the new Hampton University, to his work establishing vocational schools - most notably the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama - to help Black people and other disadvantaged minorities learn useful, marketable skills and work to pull themselves, as a race, up by the bootstraps.

He reflects on the generosity of both teachers and philanthropists who helped in educating Blacks and native Americans. He describes his efforts to instill manners, breeding, health and a feeling of dignity to students. His educational philosophy stresses combining academic subjects with learning a trade (something which is reminiscent of the educational theories of John Ruskin). Washington explained that the integration of practical subjects is partly designed to reassure the white community as to the usefulness of educating Black people.

Public Domain (P)2006 Legacy Audio Books, Inc.

Up from Slavery

I read the book for its historical value.The narrators voice was pleasant and easy to listen to

interesting and insightful

I have an immense amount of respect for Booker T Washington after listening to this book - for his hard work and his ability to forgive and even praise those who once enslaved them.

UnderstAnding our history

I listened to this book on the recommendation of COL West. There are so many lessons in this autobiography that one must listen two or three times to grasp them all. All Americans should read this book and it should be required reading in high school. Mr. Washington’s journey is to be emulated among our citizens today. Learning from his teaching could bring peace in this time of racial strife in America.

Amazing!

I am so grateful that I have been able to read/listen to this book about such an incredible man. He did such an amazing job and made such an incredible impact!

Inspiration for all

This has been quite an inspirational experience to listen to this work. Booker did not sugar coat the challenges of his time, but instead focused on the positive and demonstrated an unconquerable spirit in all he did.
The narration was outstanding. There was just one short part where it sounded like the narrator changed to someone else which was a little annoying, but quickly went back to the main narrator.