Description:
Character Building is a collection of motivational speeches delivered by Booker T. Washington to staff, students and visitors at Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute (now Tuskegee Institute). As the school's leader, Washington gives thought-provoking advice on self-improvement and the value of education. It's one of his most noted public lectures.
Brief description:
Booker T. Washington (1856-1915) was a prominent figure in the African American community and a champion of higher education. He was born into slavery and obtained freedom shortly after the Emancipation Proclamation. As a child, he worked manual jobs to help support his family, but aspired to receive a formal education. He enrolled in Hampton Normal Agricultural Institute in Virginia and thrived as a student. After graduating, Washington embarked on a career as a lecturer and leader of the Tuskegee Institute. He also worked as a political advisor to presidents Theodore Roosevelt and William Taft.