Writing assignment: 500 words on this topic: “What are some memorable images from the narrative? Why are they memorable?”
When reading this book there were many scenes and images that stayed with me. Between the scenes of slavery and the powerful stories within. These stories remain memorable and gain importance because they provide insight into history. Without these firsthand accounts, the history of the U.S. would be very unknown and misunderstood. These images are not only memorable, but they are also a window into what that kind of life was really like.
One really memorable event is when money got tight for Washington. To be more specific the school he taught in had very poor maintenance. The roof constantly leaked, and the building was starting to even crumble in areas. But there was a new building that just opened up. It used to be a place where they kept slaves. The building, however, would cost 500 dollars, and that was money that neither Washington nor his students had. But the landowner eventually agreed to let them be on the land, as long as the money was paid in two parts. The first part being 250 dollars down. Washington knew this was doable. He then would just have to pay the rest of the money off by the end of the year. This story stayed memorable to me because it showed that with the right attitude and persistence, you can get anything done.
Another thing that Washington described very memorably was how generous the people in his area were. While Washington was building his school, he got donations from both the rich and the poor. Even the poorest people of the town tried donating to support his school, one time a woman had no money so she donated six chicken eggs instead. There was one time specifically that Washington was 400 dollars in debt and on the day the debt was due they received a donation of 400 dollars. There were even wealthy ladies who would donate several thousand dollars to help create a bigger school. This story is memorable to me because of the generosity and helpfulness from the people of the town.
One more memorable image to me was Christmas in Tuskegee, where Washington once lived. The week between Christmas and New Year’s Day they had off. A lot of people used the week to party and get drunk. There was free use of weapons, and some people might have even been shot. Washington was never really clear about what happened. Washington tells about how families would spend all their money on alcohol, so children then had to go door to door and ask for gifts from others. Washington hated this; he was horrified by how sacredness of the season was lost.
These images from Booker T. Washington’s narrative help show what life was really like during that time. They are memorable because they reveal both struggles and lessons from history. Overall, they give a better understanding of the past and leave a lasting impact on the reader.
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