#educator

On June 19, 1865, news of emancipation reached the last enslaved person in Galveston, Texas, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. Today, Juneteenth is a celebration of freedom, resilience, and Black history and culture.

This Juneteenth, we're highlighting two powerful works by author, educator and activist Booker T. Washington (1856-1915): Up from Slavery and Working with the Hands. Both volumes were published in New York by Doubleday, Page & Company. Originally published in 1901, our copy of Up from Slavery was published in 1902. Our copy of Working with the Hands is a first edition from 1904 and is illustrated with photographs by Frances Benjamin Johnston (1864-1952), an American photographer and photojournalist. 

Booker T. Washington’s landmark autobiography, Up from Slavery, chronicles his journey from slavery in Virginia to becoming one of the most influential Black leaders in the United States. The book details his early life, his education at Hampton Institute, and his founding of the Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute (now known as Tuskegee University) in Alabama. Washington advocates for self-reliance, industrial education, and racial uplift through dignity and hard work. This text was widely read and continues to be a foundational work in African American literature and history.

A lesser-known sequel to Up from Slavery, Working with the Hands serves as a practical and philosophical follow-up. In it, Washington elaborates on the day-to-day operations, goals, and educational philosophy of the Tuskegee Institute. The book emphasizes the dignity of manual labor and the importance of vocational training as a means of achieving Black economic empowerment in the post-Reconstruction South.

From emancipation to education, Washington’s life and legacy are deeply tied to the ongoing struggle for Black freedom and self-determination. His writings emphasize resilience, practical knowledge, and the power of building a future by hand and by heart.

-View previous Juneteenth posts

i am so sick of people who can’t even understand how the fucking parents in bluey are so great and pull a “it’s only 7 minutes you can be a good parent for 7 minutes” and they think that’s, what, inspiring? motivating? you aren’t showing up for your kid for 7 fucking minutes of the day?

you go and yell at educators, you act like the children are the problem for screaming when you take the ipad away, and you completely misuse and ruin the actual point and process of gentle parenting. then you come and yell about expecting a ma’am/sir?? i’m sorry?? no because i’m so fucking sick of it.

i’m so sick of parents not raising their children then acting like childrens bad behavior is the child’s fault, and not only that they get upset when educators expect respect and manners from children. you are so far up your own ass you have no idea what raising a child is like even though you fucking have one! people pay more attention to mostly self sufficient cats then some of you pay attention to your own kids, then you think you have the right to critique intentionality and routine based discipline. get the fuck outta here.

actually no. stay here a minute longer. i'm so fucking sick and tired of dancing around this. there is a sick and disgusting epidemic of negligence among parents in this culture. it is sickening. i am so past the bare minimum. "i'm trying my best" try fucking harder. im sick. you are neglecting your child. you are doing a disservice to them, to the people around you, and to society and humanity as a whole. i am not taking the excuses anymore of "i'm so tired" "i've been working all day" you had a kid!! you fucking have a child at home that you won't even teach what colors are you sick fuck. how many children do i have to see come into my classrooms not knowing their colors, not reading books, having poor communication skills?

the communication skills? the lack? do you know what thats from?? it's from parents not talking to their kids. this neglect, for most people i see, is child abuse. and people get so upset and get their panties in a twist about it when i call it out. no you are choosing to put your three year old child in front of a screen. you are ignoring them. you can't tell me that your child has four fucking hours of screen time a day and then turn around and tell me thats not neglect.

there is this idea that you are so put upon and hurt and tired and deserving of care and love and patience and for people to be kind to you because you have it so goddamn hard raising children. guess what! those kids you ignore and refuse to raise are off worse. where is the love and care and fucking patience for those kids? it's disgusting how common this is. how casual people discuss not being able to handle their own children and sticking them in front of screens and praying for school to start back up.