[Booker T. Washington, half-length portrait, seated at...

Born into slavery in Virginia in 1856, Booker T. Washington rose to prominence as an influential African-American educator, author, and presidential advisor during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, overcoming a difficult childhood characterized by poverty and lack of education to become a leading figure in the fight for civil rights. Despite facing numerous obstacles, including a lack of funding and racial discrimination, he founded the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama, where he and his students worked tirelessly to build a school that would provide education and training to African-Americans, with the ultimate goal of empowering them to take charge of their own futures and become leaders in their communities. Through his tireless efforts and unwavering commitment to the cause of equality, Washington became a symbol of hope and inspiration for generations of African-Americans. To read about his long and illustrious life, see New York Times Obituary - November 15, 1915.