On Booker T. Washington's Up from Slavery (4)

Yuen M. Ho
English 48B
February 9, 2007
Journal #25 Booker T. Washington

I. Quote

“At the time those cakes seemed to me to be absolutely the most tempting and desirable things that I had ever seen, and I then and there resolved that, if I ever got free, the height of my ambition would be reached if I could get to the point where I cold secure and eat ginger-cakes in the way that I saw those ladies doing.”

II. Summary

When Booker T. Washington was small, he had to work all-day to serve his owners. He could not have enough basic food. Any kind of deserts sounded luscious and tempting to him, including a simple, ginger cake.

III. Response

From this quote, we can definitely understand why Booker T. Washington was not as ambitious and determined to aim for freedom and equality for all Negroes at that time. Rather, he proposed a solution that would be pleasing to both Whites and Negroes at that time—he just asked for thrift, self-respect, training, education and more economic rights. He did not consider asking for more: civil equality, equal education opportunity and enfranchisement. But his decision could, and should be understood. If he was wise enough to make such a big leap, he must be an arrogant and conceited person to be able to do so. Yet, he was humble and willing to serve as a leader. When he was small, he did not dream of taking the place of his owners and live in their big house. All he would like to have is just a piece of ginger cake. How possibly could a little Negro slave change drastically and dream big when he grew up?