3.5 

Up from Slavery

By Booker T. Washington
Up from Slavery by Booker T. Washington digital book - Fable

Publisher Description

Booker Taliaferro Washington began life as a slave in Virginia shortly before emancipation, but rose to become one of the most celebrated leaders the African American community has ever had. His principal occupation was as president of the Tuskegee Institute, which he founded in 1881, but he earned national renown as an orator, writer and political advisor. His address at the Atlanta Exposition was a pivotal moment in race relations in America.

Washington believed deeply in the dignity of physical labor, and that merit and talent are eventually rewarded regardless of race or class. The Tuskegee Institution was primarily a technical college, and aimed to teach industrial skills in addition to academic training. Students built many of the buildings on the campus, grew the food that was eaten there, and even made the furniture, tools and vehicles used by the school.

Up from Slavery was originally published as a serialized work in The Outlook, a Christian magazine based in New York, before being collected in a single volume in 1901. This edition includes an introduction by Walter H. Page, a future U.S. ambassador to the United Kingdom.

Download the free Fable app

app book lists

Stay organized

Keep track of what you’re reading, what you’ve finished, and what’s next.
app book recommendations

Build a better TBR

Swipe, skip, and save with our smart list-building tool
app book reviews

Rate and review

Share your take with other readers with half stars, emojis, and tags
app comments

Curate your feed

Meet readers like you in the Fable For You feed, designed to build bookish communities
app book lists

Stay organized

Keep track of what you’re reading, what you’ve finished, and what’s next.
app book recommendations

Build a better TBR

Swipe, skip, and save with our smart list-building tool
app book reviews

Rate and review

Share your take with other readers with half stars, emojis, and tags
app comments

Curate your feed

Meet readers like you in the Fable For You feed, designed to build bookish communities

Up from Slavery Reviews

3.5
“Up from Slavery is one of those books that feels both personal and historically important at the same time. Booker T. Washington’s journey—from being born into slavery to becoming a leading educator and speaker—is told with honesty, humility, and quiet strength. What stands out most is his perspective: even through hardship, there’s a focus on growth, discipline, and purpose. The writing is simple but impactful, making his experiences feel real and accessible. It’s not just about his life—it’s about resilience, education, and building something meaningful despite obstacles. It’s an inspiring and grounding read that stays with you.”
“This was a really interesting story, especially the first few chapters, which describe Washington's early life, in slavery as a child and in poverty (e.g. working in the coal mines) in later childhood and youth, then his determined search for an education as a teen and the beginning of his work as an educator. It starts to drag a bit later on with so many accounts of his fundraising, public speaking, and meetings with the prominent people of his day, and not as much about his family life or day-to-day life at the Tuskeegee Institute. I would have liked to know more about some things and less about others, but regardless, Washington certainly was a remarkable and accomplished man, and the general arc of his life story and his thoughts on how to make the most of life and one's opportunities are worth reading.”

About Booker T. Washington

Booker Taliaferro Washington (April 5, 1856 – November 14, 1915) was an American educator, author, orator, and adviser to several presidents of the United States. Between 1890 and 1915, Washington was the dominant leader in the African American community and of the contemporary black elite. Washington was from the last generation of black American leaders born into slavery and became the leading voice of the former slaves and their descendants. They were newly oppressed in the South by disenfranchisement and the Jim Crow discriminatory laws enacted in the post-Reconstruction Southern states in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Start a Book Club

Start a public or private book club with this book on the Fable app today!

FAQ

Do I have to buy the ebook to participate in a book club?

Why can’t I buy the ebook on the app?

How is Fable’s reader different from Kindle?

Do you sell physical books too?

Are book clubs free to join on Fable?

How do I start a book club with this book on Fable?

Notification Icon