Booker T. Washington

[inaji100]

One Of The Best Black Men

[frtw4428]

Very impressive - I'm a big admirer of Dr. Washington. One question though: where is the rest of this? It just ends abruptly.

[m2komgr]

This is very helpful! I have one question though...the first quote, the first part - where and when does he say it?

[SandraMHum]

Wonderful!

[takfam07]

@kagerone Racism will always be there. It's how a culture deals with it. Imagine if tomorrow, the 30 million blacks in the US suddenly became "avatars," guided mentally by a random group of Chinese, Japanese and Koreans for the next 30 years? "Blacks" would FLOURISH. They would start ramping up immediately. It isn't "racism"--it's culture. There was damage from slavery, but unfortunately African culture did not provide the memes to deal with oppression from advanced cultures to begin with.

[takfam07]

@kagerone If blacks still had their full-on Negroid features, but were distinctly East Asian in their thinking and behavior, do you think their saga would've been exactly the same? Now THAT'S the question. That's the litmus test on the impact of white evil on black failure. You see, peoples the world over have been slaves, and owned slaves--slavery was NORMAL until whites ended it. Before that, black culture came to dominate the slave market by the 1500s-- why do you think that is?

[takfam07]

@kagerone (cont). In fact, Asian Americans EMBODY the Booker T. model! Trust me, I know--I'm 4th generation Japanese American. Not a drop of white blood in me. My non-white ancestors came to the U.S 100 years ago, dirt poor and semi-literate, faced full-on racial discrimination. They were on the "colored" side of Jim Crow as well. They were interned during WWII, all property confiscated by the US govt. Three generations later, I graduate from Harvard. (cont).

[takfam07]

@kagerone Blacks are hardwired to believe in racism as an insurmountable barrier. Which is understandable, considering what they went through historically. But look to see other racial groups who faced institutionalized racism and discrimination in the U.S.--did any of them succeed? YES. Look at East Asians-- Chinese, Japanese, Koreans. they arrived as unskilled labor. They were denied hiring because of race, too. They developed skills. Educated themselves. (cont).

[takfam07]

@kagerone Which is exactly why Booker's vision--if fully embraced by blacks--would've helped. Booker had tremendous backing from rich Northern white folks like Andrew Carnegie-- a Bill Gates of yesteryear--to fund black cultural improvement.  But for some reason, blacks worldwide-- then and now --seem incredibly resistant to cultural advancement. If blacks were like East Asian immigrants, they would've flourished WITHIN Jim Crow. They would've cornered industry markets, then broken through.

[takfam07]

@kagerone No, that is Booker laying out the TRUTH. Cultural group readiness to compete and perform was at the heart of the matter in Booker's time, and still is today. Of course blacks as a whole weren't ready to compete. They were slaves for more than 200 years. Their own culture sold them into slavery. And African culture was too undeveloped to prevent Euro and Arab colonization--far superior civilizations. That's why Booker stressed cultural development for blacks--focusing INWARD.

[takfam07]

Booker was RIGHT ON. When the Civil War ended, blacks had enormous potential to corner the market in the South. The economic truth was that whites had no capital and no skills after the War. Their investment WAS in their slaves. Therefore the ex-slaves held all the capital--they were THE labor force in the South. If they had ORGANIZED under Booker's ideas, instead of only pursuing "rights," it might be very different for blacks today. But then-- as now--blacks followed the wrong leaders.

[THEMONITOR72]

@takfam07 Blacks could have followed Booker but he couldn't offer them protection from jealous whites who would resent uppity Negroes. The whites would riot, rob, destroy and steal Black property. It's been done many times, look up 'Black Wall Street' and 'Rosebud'. Whites used fear to prevent Blacks from doing all of the things you speak of, and with local government approval. You know absolutely nothing of the Black experience and should be thankful for our presence here...

[THEMONITOR72]

CONT... Because without us you would be closer to the bottom. Do you believe if there were no other ethnic groups here save for whites and Asians that your experience would remain the same??? You need to get over your fascination with the Black experience here in America. You have no substance to bring to these discussions. GDAY!!!

[takfam07]

@THEMONITOR72 Interesting to speculate if there were no other groups in the US except whites and Asians. Then America would be 63% white, 37% Asian. And what kind of Asians? Just like 90+% of US blacks are slave descendants of primarily West African blood, could our theoretical Asian group consist of 90+% East Asians (Japanese, Chinese, Korean) and Indians from India? Wow! America would be the smartest, most productive and powerful country EVER. Safe and clean. But no blues and jazz? ;o(

[takfam07]

@THEMONITOR72 I think history has been revised to make radical racist whites look much more powerful than they actually were, and to minimize black inefficiencies and lack of collective will. How you can tell? Look at blacks today. It's clear that they never had a glorious culture that was taken away. The problem is that they never developed the requisite cultural impetus to groove with modern civilization to begin with. Once blacks understand this, they can inaugurate their progress TODAY.

[takfam07]

@kagerone Jim Crow was not AA for whites. It was to keep blacks from participating in society at the time, which was basically whites only. But WITHIN the white world, there was no "AA"--whites had to work and perform in order to survive. Booker proposed that blacks strengthen their industry skills so that race could no longer prevent them from competing. The Chinese were excluded, too, so they exploited limited available niches-- restaurants, laundry business --and grew from there.

[takfam07]

You're asking many questions, but I don't understand your point. Can you tell me what it is? The whole point I'm making is: blacks today are as free as they're ever going to be. But too many of them persist with destructive attitudes and behaviors that prevent upward mobility as a culture. This relegates them to a "back of the bus" ride of their own volition, and a "Rosa Parks" no longer has any moral power to save them. They must work toward progress, as Booker explained 100 years ago.

[takfam07]

@kagerone Or, as one 19th century African chief put it: "We want three things: powder, ball and brandy; and we have three things to sell: men, women and children." Whites conceptualized and instituted freedom, which did not exist prior to the 19th century. Every culture owned slaves the world over. During the debates over the American founding, Charles Pinckney said: "If slavery be wrong, it is justified by the example of all the world." But within a century, America ended slavery.

[takfam07]

@kagerone Blacks sold each other by the millions. Basil Davidson's "The African Slave Trade": "The notion that Europe altogether imposed the slave trade on Africa is without any foundation in history...Those Africans who were involved in the trade were seldom the helpless victims of a commerce they did not understand: on the contrary, they responded to its challenge. They exploited its opportunities." (cont.)

[takfam07]

@kagerone (cont). And American whites freeing black slaves on moral principle--killing each other over the issue --was without precedent in history. Throughout history, blacks owned blacks-- the empires of Mali, Songhai, and Ghana were built by black slaves. Blacks also enslaved Turks and shipwrecked whites. American Indians enslaved each other, and also blacks. Whites aren't accountable to blacks for anything, not then and not now. When blacks finally realize this, they will be free.

[takfam07]

@kagerone The only thing I take away from MLK is his "not color of skin, but content of character"--that phrase alone resonates exactly with Booker's teachings. If he preached permanent AA for blacks, then I disagree with him. A "whites only" culture--that may have been, but that was the standard throughout human kind. So was slavery. Until recently that was a dominant culture's prerogative. So answering your question about whites and freedom, yes--whites CREATED the concept. (cont).

[takfam07]

@kagerone Yes, MLK was RIGHT. But blacks went from "content of character, not color of skin," to "color of skin, not content of character." Because affirmative action and special treatment for blacks is based on skin color--the opposite of what MLK preached. And the reason for the sad switch? Like I said, when freedom came, blacks could not compete on equal terms, on merit alone--because they didn't follow Booker T. If they had, they would've been prepared to compete and cooperate on par.

[takfam07]

@kagerone So all Booker was saying, basically: "In spite of our oppressed history, let us adopt the values of 'Voluntary Minorities,' even though we are 'Involuntary Minorities'. Because the oppositional self-destructive attitudes of Involuntarys--while understandable--are actually quite maladaptive for success in the new arena of freedom. Whereas, Voluntarys have just the right worldview and corresponding actions for success-- IN SPITE of white racism." (cont).

[takfam07]

@kagerone All blacks have to do is study and emulate the "Asian American Playbook." Because its subtitle is: "How to Succeed in the U.S.--Without Being White." Trust me, East Asians in particular (Japanese, Chinese Koreans, Taiwanese, Vietnamese) saw America as the Land of Opportunity. That's why they succeeded in spite of heavy, government-sanctioned racism. Every obstacle was to be hurdled, every challenge overcome. It's the "Voluntary Minority" mindset, vs. "Involuntary" (blacks). (cont)

[takfam07]

@kagerone Blacks did not then, nor now, properly focus on the values that advance a race in our global marketplace and free society. "Intelligence" simply means doing everything possible to preserve two-parent households; keeping communities (even poor ones) safe and clean; focusing on education as THE top priority, and encouraging each other to excel in academics; never accepting welfare except in very dire situations; avoiding criminal behavior; and most of all, supporting one another.

[takfam07]

@kagerone "Intelligence" is Booker's term, not mine. But I will say this: it's not about abstract intelligence, like acing an SAT or Raven's Matrices Test. No, it's about the right world view, values and actions. Blacks dismissed Booker and called him Uncle Tom because he said, Do it by degrees. Don't clamor for "rights" when we haven't prepared ourselves yet. Strengthen ourselves over a few generations, through hard work, entrepreneurialism, education, financial conservatism, investment.

[takfam07]

@kagerone Blacks weren't ready then-- or now --to embrace the truths that Booker T. laid out for success. "Industry, Thrift, Intelligence, Property"--Booker advised blacks not to focus equal rights too soon, because newly freed slaves did not have the capacity or skills to handle the demands of freedom. But blacks, following Dubois, put all their energies in demanding equal rights. And to this day, blacks studiously avoid addressing the need to correct maladaptive cultural characteristics.

[takfam07]

Too bad more blacks don't revisit Booker T.'s thoughts and philosophy. Actually he had the right answers all along. He still does. But his people weren't ready then. In some ways, they are even less ready now. I can say that as an Asian American, Booker T. is straight common sense to us. It's how we were brought up to think and act. And in the long run, it works. In fact, it's puzzling how any oppressed minority group who REALLY wants progress, could think otherwise.

[grandchamp3]

whale like panda black and white..deep trouble

[grandchamp3]

a wale which is black and whited,,, deep trouble

[grandchamp3]

i know a terrorist he want to bomb soon in shhhhhhhh

[frtw4428]

Thanks for posting this. I have admired Dr. Washington since I learned about him in grade school. He is one of the greatest educators in American history. Read "Up From Slavery" if you have not done so. His principal belief that Blacks could gain greater independence through education rather than merely demanding rights drew sharp criticism. But today, I think it is more relevant than ever.

[Kwizmatix]

Very nice debates I see evolving from this video. I'd like to add something here. I believe in 2011 its VERY important for all of us to acknowledge the past, and progress towards the future. Its extremely important for us to unite as a human race because Divide and conquer is what is destroying ALL OF us who are outside of the top 2% elites. This is very important because the next revolution is going to need to be global and is FAR more important than anything any of us have faced so far.

[kdizzel4shizzel]

i just read that book i took a lot from it

[joninjones11]

@kagerone

booker t. washington didn't criticize black people at all...he just tried to get them to switch their logic....if he was guilty of anything, it may have been preaching too much, but he wasn't a negative person at all. he tried to help black people, not hold them back. just know that in 2010, during the economic recession, while country has 9.8% unemployment, the black community has 15.3%....it is because we as a race have less practical job skills than most other ethnicities...

[joninjones11]

@kagerone

your opinion of booker t. washington isn't accurate...he simply understood that you get more bees with honey, than you do with vinegar....

[joninjones11]

@kagerone .....well, for one....if any person would honestly study and observe history, it would be pretty evident that a particular race made significant strides that advanced the entire human race. a particular race conquered a lot of other ethnicity's and countries....a particular race seemed to always be in power....keep in mind that race / ethnicity / nationality are all different classifications of human beings. in theory, blacks shouldn't have to prove themselves to anyone...

[joninjones11]

con'd..... however, in practicality, because of slavery [in conjunction with the political, social & economical state of the lone and largely predominant black continent of AFRICA] blacks have been thought of as less than largely by whites, blacks, and others. although this may not be true in reality, some people's perception (particularly those in power, those with resources and wealth) condemned blacks as subhuman. and until we proved that we were just as human as they, those people...

[joninjones11]

con'd..... would have no reason to alter their erroneous thinking. the people in power would have no incentive to grant respect, resources, or human decency to a people who they mentally deemed less than human. so when i say booker t. understood that we, as a black people, needed to prove ourselves...this in no way concedes inferiority of the black race to the white. it just displayed his understanding of the human psyche...he realized, whether wrong or right, people are slaves to their emotion

[105Mittens]

@kagerone Good grief. Booker T Washington was "racist" because he was forced to kowtow to white prejudice in order to be heard by whites. I think if he had REALLY bought into the racism of the day, he wouldn't have done shit with his life as was expected.

[flutist218]

I urge all of you commenters to READ "Up From Slavery" to learn BTW's insight into human relations(note I did not say "race relations"). Each person needs to earn respect and not have it just given to them.

"Entitlement" doesn't work, folks.

[joninjones11]

@flutist218

well said....it is about human relations....you have accurately articulated more in two sentences than i have been able to do with 20 paragraphs....booker t. washington understood....you & i too understand....i am glad i am not alone.....thank you for recognizing and also posting.

[joninjones11]

booker knew then, what you fail to understand now: you have to give someone a reason to acknowledge your existence. he believed that blacks shouldn't have advocated for civil right at first. if they gained community independence, inevitably the civil rights would automatically be granted.

i.e. simply put, oprah winfrey is more respected by whites that wendy williams. to whites, oprah provides something of value. oprah provides something that white people consider worthy of respect.

[moorepow09]

@joninjones11 you sound very silly, y does anyone have to prove to anyone white, black, brown , yellow whatever that their here? That dosnt make any sense the simple fact that you are standing in my presence lets you know i exsist, the fact that you built your fortune off the sweat of me and my families brow should let you know that I exsist. And comparing Oprah to Wendy is like apples to oranges, do you really think Oprah would be in her position if she spoke her mind, heck NO..

[joninjones11]

the reason you fail to make your point is because you are an ignorant fool. you obviously have no idea what you are talking about. he didn't believe whites were superior. he was only astute enough to realized that whites were in power; therefore, they made the rules and until blacks give them a reason to consider us equal to them, they would never accept blacks -- by force or any other means. he knew that whites (of the time) would never accept blacks unless black could provide something useful.

[joninjones11]

the reason booker t. washington failed, wasn't his failure at all. during his day, the black americans neglected to embrace his logic. our predecessors wrongly choose to follow w.e.b. dubois instead. he ignorantly attempted to mandate that white people respect black people because of the constitution. it is the equivalent of telling a child to marry, based on parents' choice. you have to give someone a reason to marry you. nothing is automatic...that is the fallacy in w.e.b.dubois' argument.

[joninjones11]

Every person who commented, especially Smoothcollected (who supposedly graduated from college), should be ashamed. This is a pathetic display of ignorance and improper English. all of you embarrassed me and showcase your disinclination to better yourself. Most commentators clearly don't understand the basics of Booker T. Washington's argument of the black value to society: until blacks gain economic freedom, through skills & business, they wouldn't be respected nor accepted by whites.

[joninjones11]

why was my original comment removed...? i know for a fact that i didn't overly or aggressively attack anyone. but seriously, too many people comment when they have no idea what they are saying... i am just saying, if you disagree with me, that should be fine, but to remove my comment... that is simply communistic.

[smoothcollected]

@kagerone please read up from slavery youll see that booker was more depressed about the fact that black parents of tuskeGee students would be mad that their kids werent learning freaking Greek mythology instead of being happy that he was instilling the much needed home skills and masonry skills needed for lively hood. he also talked about how blacks would try to look good to the point of spending beyond there means and sadly thats the case today

[smoothcollected]

Im a graduate of tuskegee U. and had more of an in depth look a booker t. washington outlook and strategy to black progress. And it was said that he and his philosophical adversary WEB dubois deliberately fueded with eachother to ensure one of thier demands were met.

[joninjones11]

these men both disagreed idealogically. you cannot force someone to accept or respect you: each is simply earned. W.E.B DuBois unwisely used the courts to attempt to gain civil rights for black americans...Booker T. Washington wanted blacks to use their economic independence to subliminally convince whites that blacks have proved they are collectively worthy of respect. He wanted us to speak the universal "GREEN" language. we unwisely, through the courts, chose government dependency instead.

[joninjones11]

@smoothcollected

i understand the fued you refer too, but i don't think it was a deliberate fued...these men had opposing philosophies....however, web dubois agreed with booker t. washington....until he noticed that the white elites were pumping money into booker t's practical skills institution. that took money out of literary & arts colleges, which web dubois thought were the key to black elitism.... when web dubois noticed the financial shift, that is when he began to fight booker t.

[smoothcollected]

@joninjones11 I had a professor at Tuskegee U. the late Dr. toland who taught from 1949-2009 who said this was said to be by the old heads when booker. T. allowed W.E.B dubois to teach a summer at tuskegee in the fall of 1905 but butted heads when W.E.B tried to impose his will on the university. And like every other man thats not Going to happen when you started something and another man thinks he Gonna come in and run it

[smoothcollected]

@joninjones11 correction summer 1905

[smoothcollected]

no he didnt think whites were superior and nor did he want whites to Just accept us he thought the key to black success was to be independent in home ec skills and agriculture, daily living skills. he actually believed in seperated but equal and believed if we were independent in the neccessities of life to be considered equals would be inevitable.

[joninjones11]

@smoothcollected

your words are so true...so true...you understand

[peasah2005]

@kagerone

Brother Booker T educated himself and it is obvious when he founded his Tuskegee Institute to make sure African people can to learn and to invest amongst each other, because Brother Booker T. Washington made a massive imapct on the lives of our people to be self-educated.

[joninjones11]

booker t. washington didn't educate himself. he went to school. he didn't want us to be self educated, but self reliant. we wanted to jump from $0 to $1,000 over night. we wanted equally without earning it. we wanted the gov't to give it to us. the imposition of equality by gov't force proved a failure.

booker wanted us to earn our equality from whites, not have the government grant it to us. you cannot order whites to believe blacks are equal. they need a reason to realize the fact.

[peasah2005]

@joninjones11

Well to you don't think he did, but the fact of the matter is when he was enslaved, Booker T. Washington did teach himself.

Also, he might have advocated for civil rights, but never the less he still made a impact in our lives to study and to invest amongst each other.

[peasah2005]

@kagerone

It doesn't matter what I mean or not, Booker T. Washington despite he'd suffered infliction, he managed to read and write and he inspired us to not only study, but to invest onto one another and that's how he made an impact onto us.

[smoothcollected]

@kagerone what are you sayn dude was only teaching his people how to live a practical life and bring racial equality the best way he knew how. I wonder how you would fare at the time.

[peasah2005]

@kagerone

Well, that's your view because Brother Booker T. Washington was for the values of Africans, that's what he's meant to do.

Also, he was a slave, but Brother Booker T. Washington re-educated himself and he fought virgously against the rights of Africans than anyone else.

[kazamafoo]

I loved it :) lol

[lonis787]

omg metal gear  omg metal gear omg metal gear

[peasah2005]

Brother Booker T. Washington brought Africans to study, to build and to invest and when he founded his Tuskegee Institute that changed the lives of African people around the world.

[thistle2007]

Very nice video about a great American! Please post the rest of it when you get a chance!

[mickypure]

we are studying on Booker T. Washington recently in our values learning, and i searched him and found this deppressing thing.