At the end of the U.S. Civil War, 9-year-old Booker T. Washington walked out of enslavement and into freedom. As an adult, Washington became a leader and a defining voice among the last generation of Black Americans born into slavery. Well known as an influential author and advisor to several U.S. Presidents, Washington advocated for the education and entrepreneurial growth of formerly enslaved people and their descendants. The historic impact of his career has even led some to nickname his most active years (1880 to 1910) “The Age of Booker T. Washington.” As he’s quoted here in his autobiography, “The Story of My Life and Work,” Washington believed that people “gain more by being generous than by being narrow” and encouraged others to embrace the guiding principle of elevating oneself by helping others.
