

In 1998, the Modern Library listed the book at No. The book was a best-seller, and remained the most popular African-American autobiography until that of Malcolm X. Du Bois, among others, criticized some of his views. Washington was a controversial figure during his lifetime, and W. It was serialized so that Washington could receive feedback from his audience during the writing and could adapt his work to his diverse audience. This book was first published as a serial in 1900 through The Outlook, a Christian newspaper of New York. Washington explained that the integration of practical subjects is partly designed to "reassure the White community of the usefulness of educating Black people".

His educational philosophy stresses combining academic subjects with learning a trade (reminiscent of John Ruskin). He describes his efforts to instill manners, breeding, health and dignity into students. He reflects on the generosity of teachers and philanthropists who helped educate Black and Native Americans. The book describes his experience of working to rise up from being enslaved as a child during the Civil War, the obstacles he overcame to get an education at the new Hampton Institute, and his work establishing vocational schools like the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama to help Black people and other persecuted people of color learn useful, marketable skills and work to pull themselves, as a race, up by the bootstraps. Up from Slavery is the 1901 autobiography of American educator Booker T.
