Commentary

Page: Booker T. Washington’s shining example

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A Black History Month reflection

by Joseph Page

Black History Month is a time when many remember black advocates who made sacrifices for equality, peace, and the betterment of the future.  While well-known figures such as Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks feature strongly in the fabric of American history, Booker T. Washington is one individual worthy of remembrance not only because of his race, but more importantly, because he believed in the ability of blacks to succeed by their own merits, despite the obstacles they faced.

Joseph Page

Although Booker T. Washington was born in Virginia during slavery, his most profound influence was a woman named Viola Ruffner, a schoolteacher who was born in, of all places, Arlington, Vermont. Following emancipation, Washington worked in her household where he learned the principles of self-reliance, hard work, and above all else, the appreciation for education. With Viola’s encouragement, Washington eventually attended Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute, graduating in 1875 with honors. 

Booker T. Washington went on to establish Tuskegee University. The institution was built by students, and offered training in trades such as cooking, carpentry, printing, and shoemaking. Washington also hired George Washington Carver to teach students agricultural skills. Both Carver and Washington believed that, given proper training and the appropriate opportunities, blacks could indeed become self-supporting, and make their own way forward to achieve whatever objectives they desired.

Washington’s vision of black achievement contrasts strongly with an ideology I vehemently oppose: critical race theory. This cancerous agenda emphasizes race and causes division by categorizing people into two groups, oppressor and oppressed. Whites fall into the former category, minorities into the latter. Blacks and other minorities are conditioned to accept that, simply due to their skin color, America will never be a country in which they can advance, or transform their dreams into a reality. Such a doctrine does nothing to remind blacks of the many ways in which they overcame the adversities they faced. 

Booker T. Washington’s ideals of hard work and self-sufficiency inspire me today. While the injustices of slavery and segregation are part of our country’s history, I believe it is equally important to recognize how blacks conquered those obstacles. Anyone, regardless of color or circumstance, is capable of attaining success. 

The author is a Montpelier resident, son of VDC Publisher Guy Page, and brother of Managing Editor Tim Page.

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Categories: Commentary, History

5 replies »

  1. Welcome, is this your debut for Vermont Daily Chronicle, Joseph? Or did I miss an earlier publication. I’ve long known of Booker T. Washington, but didn’t know of the Arlington, VT connection in his life. My father was one of the few white faces at the MLK I Have a Dream Speech. Black leaders with statures of strong community building character were remembered in my classrooms. Like you, I oppose what CRT has done to stir racism rather than stir humanity to recognize the value of proper training and appropriate opportunities to build strength of body, good character, sound minds.

  2. Thanks for the article, Joseph. I read an excellent book several years ago, “Unshakable Faith,” which is a double biography of Booker T. Washington and George Washington Carver, and which chronicles the extraordinary lives of these two remarkable men. It also gives us insight into their vibrant faith, as well as their often tumultuous relationship while working together at Tuskegee Institute. Their lives and stupendous accomplishments are a shining and enduring testament to their character, faith, and patience, as well as a stinging rebuke to the ridiculously hollow and demonic tenets of CRT.

    Incidentally, we just watched a movie the other night which is based on the true story of three Black women who were mathematical geniuses and instrumental in literally getting the fledgling US space program “off the ground.” It is called “Hidden Figures.” I’ve never heard of these ladies before, and it is a phenomenal story.

    I recommend this book and film for anyone to read and watch as a tremendous inspiration to use the gifts and talents God has given him or her in the face of horrific opposition. These ladies, and Booker T. and G.W. Carver, believed and exemplified the truth that hard, honest, excellent work will speak for itself and go infinitely further than entitled grumbling and insisting the world owes us. They each literally changed the world.

  3. Love Booker T. Washington! His book ‘Up From Slavery’ is one of my all time favorites. It’s the most positive ‘kick in the pants’ I’ve ever received from a book.
    I remember reading how throughly Viola made Booker clean her house. He was thankful for her influence and said that years later if he were walking down the street he couldn’t walk over even the smallest piece of litter with out picking it up.
    Booker T. valued simple things like a daily bath and talked about how much it helped his mental state and confidence. His life was filled with hardships that he used not as stumbling blocks but wisely used them to grow and better his position in life.

    I agree totally with your sentiments, Joseph and thank you for writing this article. Hope it will encourage people who have never read any of Mr. Washington’s works to do so. They’ll be glad they did!