The BTW Society
13 Wrisley Court
Essex Junction VT 05452
802-878-3911
Website Issue or Suggestion?
Please let us know at:
webmaster@BTWSociety.org
OR use our Contact Us form!
|
 |
The CharacterPower Newsletter
October, 2008
Click Here to View
Summer, 2008
Booker T. Washington - A Great American
He grew Up From Slavery to become a famous educator, statesman, philosopher and orator.
His message of hope and opportunity inspired millions.
He understood better than most, that, without character -- education and opportunity don't count for much.
He was a visionary. He saw an America that could and would move beyond segregation.
He lived a life of purpose, dedicated to moving generations of Americans -- young and old -- to become economically independent through hard work, personal responsibility and service to one another.
He was ahead of his time
Decades before the first 4-H Club, Booker T. frequently and famously referred to the Head, Hands & Heart... (and preached as well, the 4th "H" (Health) as cleanliness).
In 1941, celebrated Harlem Renaissance poet, Langston Hughes, honored the work and vision of BTW with a poem:
So, being a far-seeing
Practical man,
He said, train your head,
Your heart,
and your hand.
(Click for the entire Ballad of Booker T)
Setting the Record StraightSome folks continue to believe that Booker T. Washington accepted segregation and disenfranchisement in return for appealing to wealthy whites for money and power.
Not so.
In 1900, Dr. Washington secretly raised money and put up a needed balance from his personal funds to challenge the constitutionality of the 'grandfather clause' in Louisiana's state constitution.
This clause extended the franchise to illiterate voters whose grandfathers had been qualified to vote, but which effectively excluded Blacks.
Booker T. also covertly funded legal challenges against discrimination in Alabama's voter registration practices in 1903 and 1904. (Giles v Harris and Giles v Teasley)
Did you know......the words to "Lift Every Voice & Sing", sometimes referred to as the Negro National Anthem, were first penned as a poem by James Weldon Johnson?
At the time, he was an elementary school principal in Jacksonville, Florida.
Principal Johnson chose to honor Booker T. Washington on the occasion of the great orator's visit to Jacksonville to speak at its Lincoln's Birthday celebration by writing the poem. He first recited the poem on Feb. 12, 1900 upon rising to introduce Washington.
And do you know why...our founding Constitution counted slaves as "3/5th of a man"?
Representatives to the new Congress from each state were to be allocated according to the population of each state.
So delegates from the slave states in the South tried to include slaves in their population count to boost their numbers and thus, their representation in the new Congress.
Northern free state delegates objected because it would have tilted representation heavily in favor of the pro-slavery South.
Thus, inserting the clause to designate a slave as '3/5th of a man' was a hard-fought "win" by abolitionists -- hoping to hasten the day when all slaves would be freed. It served to reduce the number -- thus the power and influence -- of South pro-slavery legislators.
About UsWe show young people how to be a "CEO" ... to control their own
Character, Education & Opportunity
Our motto, I CHOOSE highlights the two sides to every choice:
Freedom - || - Responsibility.
Our motto also leads into "Booker T's Oath" and the seven CharacterPower values:
Integrity
Commitment
Hard Work
Ownership
Organization
Service
| Education | | | | | | |
What we doThe BTW Society honors the legacy of Dr. Washington by passing on his philosophy with workshops, panel discussions, a books-to-school program and scholarships awarded to 'BTW Ambassadors' -- deserving students to pursue their post-HS education in science, technology, math, engineering, business or vocational training.
Beginning this Fall, the Booker T Washington Society will host CharacterPower workshops in community centers, high schools and churches around the country.
Please join the Society and help bring Dr. Washington's inspiring messages and philosophy to young people.
|
