Book review on the book

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Up From Slavery Book Review
Up From Slavery is an autobiography written by Booker T. Washington and is designed to elaborate on the issues covering slavery in the period of the Civil War. It details of the needs of a young black man who had to struggle against a white superiority and a general tolerance for slavery of the black people. The details of the book reveal the efforts of a man who had to fight against many odds to arrive at a position of influence in his life. He reveals some of the processes that led to the establishment of some vocational schools with the most famous being the Tuskegee Institute based in Alabama. The controversial nature of Washington’s activities during his time brought much criticism to his book.
While the book does not have a clear and well – defined thesis, one cannot escape noticing the main agenda being reflected in the writings. Up From Slavery represents the mindset that both blacks and whites could co-exist with one another in the same environment. More importantly, the book was not used to slight the Whites for their deeds against the Blacks. However, he believed in the power of responsibility and of taking actions aimed at continuous improvement (Washington, Harlan and Smock 14). Much of the details of the story are aimed at supporting this central theme. The personal experiences of the man are designed to shed light on the requirements of a man towards achievement and pursuit of excellence (Washington 95). Such an approach helped to raise awareness on some of the steps that the blacks could take to change their reality.

The details of the book are important to the general flow of the US history as its principles are fundamental to the core themes of the American society. Washington’s desire to educate the blacks resonates well with elements of freedom and liberty which are foundational to the establishment of a better society.
Washington’s mood is optimistic as he seeks to encourage and build the black people to become major components of the American story. America is a nation that was built and designed to operate out of many cultures and traditions. However, Civil War threatened the very existence of this dynamic. Washington’s optimistic tone seems to encourage people, both black and white, to re-assess their position and embrace diversity and cooperation (Washington 23). More importantly, he seems to push the blacks to take charge of their destinies by espousing the virtues of industriousness and humility. In this sense, Washington comes across as the protagonist and there is no one who is being portrayed as a victimizer. The lack of an antagonist creates the liberty to embrace unity in thinking and expression.
One of the most intriguing characteristics of the author is to be seen in his relationships with his critics. He was noted for his accommodating nature despite the differences that people would have with some of his comments. However, the most notable critic is seen in W.E.B. DuBois who has openly criticized Washington’s manner of approach towards the liberation of the black people from slavery and oppression. DuBois felt that Washington had approached his book in a manner that gave too much leeway to the white people while being disapproving of the accomplishments of the black people. As such, he believed that a spirit of cooperation was not the most appropriate method of enhancing the liberation of the black people (Washington, Harlan and Smock 12). For him, it was also important to instill a sense of fight and aggressiveness in these liberation efforts. More importantly, DuBois fully believed that there were already many educated and successful black people in America at the time. As such, Washington should have directly mentioned these facts in his books and cater for the dynamic.
However, Washington noted that the issue is the inability of black people to take matters into their hands and deliver a better future. Washington realizes the need of black people to change their stance and cooperate well with the whites who controlled the legislative and judicial functions of the nation. In this sense, even though there could be many educated black people in America, they would still be unable to cause much change without the cooperation from the whites. Indeed, Washington’s philosophy seemed to be vindicated later on by the works of Martin Luther King who would share the same ideals as Washington in some instances (Washington, Harlan and Smock 21). Brad Nelson’s analysis of Washington’s book reveals the need by the author to be as practical as possible (Nelson). Washington must have noted the need to divide analyze the difference between economic and social equity. In today’s world, the book raises questions as to whether affirmative action is effective in its goal. Washington’s plan was designed to empower the black man to assume a position in which a man could be useful in a society that seemed to limit them to a particular trade or manner of life (Nelson). Affirmative action has, many times, raised tensions and resentment when brought into a discussion. Up From Slavery represents a unique approach by which cooperation and unity in the American society can be upheld.
Works Cited
Nelson, Brad. “Book Review: Up From Slavery | Stubbornthings.Org”. Stubbornthings.org. N.p., 2016, http://www.stubbornthings.org/book-review-up-from-slavery/. Accessed 19 November 2016.
Washington, Booker T. Up From Slavery. 1st ed. Raleigh, N.C.: Alex Catalogue, 1901. Print.
Washington, Booker T, Louis R Harlan, and Raymond Smock. The Booker T. Washington Papers. 1st ed. Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 2015. Print.