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Booker T. Washington: Black Leadership in the Age of Jim Crow (Library of African-American Biography)

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Written by Raymond W. Smock, the first official historian of the U.S. House of Representatives, Booker T. Washington: Black Leadership in the Age of Jim Crow is an interpretive biography of Booker T. Washington, an African-American scientist, educator, and leader. For all his accomplishments, Booker T. Washington has been severely criticized for the compromises he was willing to make with the white South - namely, the sacrifice of civil rights of black Americans in exchange for their economic and educational improvement. Yet in the post-Civil War South, when opportunities for advancement were scarce, Booker T. Washington ascended from slavery and achieved his personal quest for freedom amidst a severe racial climate. Smock presents evidence for the case that Washington was not a sellout, but rather a practical man and a realist, who considered education and economic advancement the most effective means to a lofty end. His amazing ability to survive and thrive in a world where black people were considered second-class citizens at best is impressive, and his talent for leadership as well as his legacy hold much for current and future generations to learn from. Booker T. Washington: Black Leadership in the Age of Jim Crow is a highly recommended addition to public and college library biography shelves.

This is a terrific book by a leading expert on the career of Booker T. Washington. Washington was an enormously influential and controversial figure at the beginning of the twentieth century. Smock's book is learned, engaging, and brief, which is a rare and welcome combination. He provides a balanced portrait that shows Washington's admirable qualities and his achievements in trying to promote racial justice in the United States and also gives due recogniton to the complaints of Washington's critics. Smock explains the dilemmas that faced Washington as he attempted to reduce racial barriers and encourage economic and educational progress for black Americans in the face of strong opposition and virulent racism. I knew little about Washington before I read this book, and I came away with a much richer understanding of a fascinating man and the problems with which he wrestled.