Three African-American Classics: Up from Slavery, The Souls of Black Folk and Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass Book

I finished the first work in this book: Up from Slavery. Washington had a solid work ethic and determination to succeed. His thoughts on greatness, education, the value of meaningful work, the lessons to be gained from associating with great people are lessons we all need to revisit in today's mindset of entitlement. I loved his statement that "great men cultivate love" and the idea that wrongs to any group of people do more to injure the morals of the one perpetuating the wrong than to the target. (I returned the copy to the library so I am quoting from my notes but that is close.)





His efforts in founding and raising funds for the Tuskegee Institute taught him much about the generosity of people and the value of working for what one receives. He firmly believed that "without property, industry, skill, economy, intelligence, character, no race can permanently succeed," and also that "man succeed in proportion as he learns to do a common thing in an uncommon manner."



Chock full of life lessons and valuable insights, this ought to be required reading, particularly in studying the post-Civil War America.