Spring Break
Oakland woman carries on Booker T. Washington's legacy
Tracy Dyke
Issue date: 2/5/09 Section: Features
This month is dedicated to the recognition of achievements, and contributions by African-Americans
Black History Month is a tribute to African-Americans who made a difference, and continue to making a difference in the world. People of African- American descent have a long history. Most important are the numerous contributions that African Americans have made over the last 200 years.
Sarah Washington O'Neal Rush is the 16th great-grandchild of Booker T. Washington, a former slave, educator, and principle, who founded Tuskegee Institute in Alabama in 1881. Rush learned what it meant to be his great-grandchild when she went to Alabama in 1996 to attend the first Booker T. Washington (BTW) family reunion at the Tuskegee Institute.
"There were many people waiting for our arrival, news reporters, journalist, students, faculty, and civic leaders, and community members. I was shocked at their presence, but not as shocked as they were to know that BTW's direct descendants were still alive," she explained. "One of the most incredible experiences for me during this reunion was to see that there are still buildings in existence today on campus that were built by BTW and his students, all former slaves."
Other than what is written in history books, Rush felt she didn't know that much about BTW. Her family at th reunion offered little information beyond his work at the institute, so she did some reasearch of her own when she came home.
"I learned that he was advisor to three U.S. presidents, McKinley, Roosevelt, and Taft. I learned that he was the first black commemorated on a U.S. postage stamp, and a 50-cent coin. I learned that he wanted his students to become business, land, and property owners as a result of their education," she shared. "And I read a book, Christian Business Legends, that cited that by 1905, Tuskegee produced more self-made millionaires than Yale, Harvard, and Princeton combined. I learned much more, but too much to be contained for this interview."
Black History Month is a tribute to African-Americans who made a difference, and continue to making a difference in the world. People of African- American descent have a long history. Most important are the numerous contributions that African Americans have made over the last 200 years.
Sarah Washington O'Neal Rush is the 16th great-grandchild of Booker T. Washington, a former slave, educator, and principle, who founded Tuskegee Institute in Alabama in 1881. Rush learned what it meant to be his great-grandchild when she went to Alabama in 1996 to attend the first Booker T. Washington (BTW) family reunion at the Tuskegee Institute.
"There were many people waiting for our arrival, news reporters, journalist, students, faculty, and civic leaders, and community members. I was shocked at their presence, but not as shocked as they were to know that BTW's direct descendants were still alive," she explained. "One of the most incredible experiences for me during this reunion was to see that there are still buildings in existence today on campus that were built by BTW and his students, all former slaves."
Other than what is written in history books, Rush felt she didn't know that much about BTW. Her family at th reunion offered little information beyond his work at the institute, so she did some reasearch of her own when she came home.
"I learned that he was advisor to three U.S. presidents, McKinley, Roosevelt, and Taft. I learned that he was the first black commemorated on a U.S. postage stamp, and a 50-cent coin. I learned that he wanted his students to become business, land, and property owners as a result of their education," she shared. "And I read a book, Christian Business Legends, that cited that by 1905, Tuskegee produced more self-made millionaires than Yale, Harvard, and Princeton combined. I learned much more, but too much to be contained for this interview."
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