Booker Taliaferro Washington

Born a slave just before the Civil War, Washington is known only as Booker though his mother had bestowed the middle name on him as well. It's not until he has the opportunity to go to school that he does what all former slaves of the period do - chooses a last name. From his earliest memory, he has always been at some job. He also had a thirst for knowledge. At some point, his mother got him a reader but Washington made little progress on his own without a teacher. He wants to attend school but his stepfather insists that he work at the salt furnaces alongside his brother, John. Washington finally has the opportunity to work in the mornings until nine o'clock, and then go to school with the understanding that he is to work an additional two hours in the afternoon. He does...