Up from Slavery | Themes

Up from Slavery Themes

The Dignity of Hard Work

Washington notes at the very beginning of his autobiography that he doesn't remember a time when he wasn't engaged in some sort of labor. He says even as a small child he had work to do and that he was taught to do it well. As a slave, he worked on the plantation. Later, he worked in the salt furnaces and then in the coalmine. When given an opportunity to work for a rather strict woman, thus leaving the coalmine, Washington took the job. He quickly learned that the lady simply wanted order and rather than being angry that she wanted things done in a particular way, he learned to do them to her satisfaction. Upon his arrival at the Hampton school, he was told to sweep a room. Rather than just sweeping, he swept three times and dusted four. When the head teacher inspected, she was so impressed at...
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