Booker T. Washington and his work for civil rights

        Booker T. Washington has been a most controversial figure in the fight for civil rights since his rise to fame in the late 1800's. Many who knew him believed that he was a straightforward man, and he was admired as a genuine hero to black Americans. In his later years he earned several nicknames, including the Sage of Tuskegee and the Wizard of the Tuskegee Machine.         Washington was born heard rumors about his father being …

…public speaking, and a little bit of politics, Washington made his mark on all races. Though controversial even today, he is generally well-respected and admired by the majority. In his own words, "the whole future of the Negro rests largely upon the question as to whether or not he should make himself, through his skill, intelligence, and character, of such undeniable value to the community in which he lived..." (Up From Slavery, Booker T. Washington, 92).