Up From Slavery by Booker T. Washington: Reflections on slavery as an institution

So I recently started reading my copy of Up From Slavery by Booker T. Washington. Immediately what catches my attention is his view on slavery as an institution. In reference to his father, who he's never met, and from his knowledge had never shown any interest in him. Washington says:" He was simply another unfortunate victim of the institution which the nation unhappily had engrafted upon it at that time ." He held no hard feelings towards his father. He knew that he was simply victim of the system he lived in.

He believed that the entire nation suffered because slavery.

As a rule, not only did the members of my race entertain no feelings of bitterness against the white before and during the war, but there are many insurance of Negroes tenderly caring for their former masters and mistresses who for some reason have become poor and dependent since the war.

This statement blew my mind. If we follow the narrative that's mainstream today. This goes completely against it. The idea of a former slave being willing to take care of his or her former masters. It illustrated a tenderness that's missing in today's views. Yet this perspective is found all throughout his book. He firmly believed that everyone was a victim of slavery. The entire nation suffered.

I pity from the bottom of my heart any nation or body of people that is so unfortunate to get entangled in the net of slavery

He makes it point to state he was in no way saying that his people did not want to be free. Yet he's clear in that Slavery was an evil that hurt everyone involved.

There's so much insight in this book. I'm barely twenty pages into reading. Yet there's so much to reflect on. I invite everyone to find a copy of Up From Slavery by Booker T. Washington. You can also listen to the book on audible.com. It's such inspiring read. Thanks for taking the time to share with me. God bless.