Overcoming Obstacles
Kindergarten: Booker T. Washington
Overcoming Obstacles
After the Civil War, things started to change, but it was still hard for some people to get an education. Learning to read was a superpower for them. It meant people had the chance to become strong, smart, and do great things in life.
Think About It
Booker T. Washington understood how important education was for everyone, especially for Black people like him. He was born a long time ago 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.
Booker didn’t have enough food to eat. He didn’t even have 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!
Think About It
-
What are some obstacles that Booker T. Washington had to overcome to go to school?
