Reflection Paper

Part A

Fredrick Douglass, Charlotte Forten, Booker T. Washington, and W.E.B Dubois are some of the prominent leaders who have a great impact on transforming the educational system in America. Fredrick Douglass grew up from a slave to become an inspirational leader of the abolitionist movement. He was born in Talbot County, Maryland to a slave mother (Fraser 78). He was mainly brought up by his grand-mother until the age of seven years when he went to work for Hugh Auld. While working as a slave, he was taught to read and write by Sophia Auld, the wife of his master. Douglass also took interest into reading books and newspapers to broaden his knowledge. The education became important in empowering the African Americans that were working as slaves.

ORDER A PAPER LIKE THIS NOW

Charlotte Forten was also an African American anti-slavery activist. She was born in 1837 and ended up growing in a strong abolitionist family (Fraser 61). She was raised by the family of Amy Matilda Casey, where she studied in the Higginson Grammar School. The institution helped to sharpen her critical thinking skills. Forten later joined Salem Normal School where she learnt literature and teaching. Later on, she got a job as a teacher in Eppes Grammar School in Salem. She became the first African American to teach the white students.

Booker T. Washington was a slave in a Virginia farm. He was born in 1856. He was passionate about education and thus walked 500 miles to pursue knowledge at Hampton Normal Agricultural Institute (Fraser 82). He did odd jobs in the school that enable him to pay his tuition fees. He got a scholarship after the headmaster of the school discovered that he was hardworking and bright student. Armstrong also had a strong moral character and thus championed for the freed slaves to offer them opportunities to get education. He later formed the Tuskegee Institute that trained teachers.

W.E.B Dubois was the first African American to get a doctorate degree at Harvard University. He is best remembered for campaigning for the rights of African Americans. He was born in 1868 in Massachusetts(Pendleton and Laura 58). While he identified himself as African American, he attended white school, where he gained his knowledge through the support of white teachers. He later joined the Fisk University and earned a bachelor’s degree before joining Harvard University. He earned his Ph.D. in 1895. He is famous his writings.

Part B

Fredrick Douglass, Charlotte Forten, Booker T. Washington, and W.E.B Dubois have had significant impact on educational systems of America. Fredrick Douglass’s early education empowered him to teach a large group of slaves. He taught them how to read and write. He also educated them how to read the New Testament. He used his knowledge to campaign for the rights of African American. He gave lectures at different Universities that helped him in dispelling the notion that African Americans were inferior to whites. He then wrote two books, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American slaveand My Bondage My Freedom that propelled him to be a national figure.

            Charlotte Forten contributed to the American educational system through teaching of former enslaved children. She also wrote essays on her experiences while teaching the blacks. The books became important resources in the process of reforming the education in America. She is also popular for writing the book, Life on the Sea Islands. Booker T. Washington also contributed significantly to develop the academic system in the United States when he founded the Tuskegee Institute (Pendleton and Laura 52). He helped in bringing up black teachers that would later empower other freed American Slaves, thus contributing towards abolitionist movement. W.E.B Dubois is among the most prominent African American scholars. He played an important role in transforming the American educational system through his numerous lectures and writings. He also continued with activism that prompted the accommodation of African Americans into the white academic culture.

Works Cited

Fraser, James. The School in the United States: A Documentary History. Abingdon: Routledge, 2019. Print.

Pendleton, Leila, and Laura, Wilkes. A Narrative of the Negro. New York: G.K. Hall, 1996. Print.