Overcoming Obstacles
1st Grade: Booker T. Washington
Overcoming Obstacles
There was a time in America when some people couldn’t go to school or learn to read and write, just because of the color of their skin. That is not fair, is it?
After the Civil War, things started to change, but it was still hard for some people to get an education. Learning to read was very important. Reading meant you could become strong, smart, and do great things in life. Reading is still a superpower! It is the ticket to becoming strong, smart and doing great things in your life.
Why is it important for everyone to go to school?
Booker T. Washington understood how important education was for everyone, especially for Black people like him. He was born in 1856, and he had a tough life as a little boy. He was born as a slave on a farm. He didn’t know his dad and his mom worked very hard as both a slave and a cook on the farm. Booker’s life was like many Black children who lived during this time.
He didn’t have enough food to eat or a proper bed. He really wanted to learn and go to school, but back then, it was against the law for enslaved people like him to learn how to read and write. Then, something amazing happened. The Union won the Civil War in 1865, and all the enslaved people, including Booker and his family, were freed!
Booker Goes to School!
Now, he had a chance to go to a school for Black children, but he had to work too. One day, he heard about an amazing school called the Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute. He really wanted to go there, so he worked hard and saved his own money. He even walked a very long way to get there!
Think About It
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What are some obstacles that Booker T. Washington had to overcome to go to school?
