Monday, September 9, 2013

From slave house to White House

Booker T. Washington was born into slavery in 1856 in the State of Virginia. After the emancipation of the African American people Booker worked to pay for his studies at Hampton University and Virginia Union University. Washington argued that the surest way for blacks to gain equal social rights was to demonstrate "industry, thrift, intelligence and property."

He played an integral part in influencing political decisions to ensure the freedom and rights of disfranchised black people in America and was often asked for advise by presidents Theodore Roosevelt and William Howard Taft.

His life echoed that of a very influential biblical figure namely Joseph, Prince of Egypt. In the same manner that Joseph went from Slavery to political influence through strong ethics, Booker did the same. I do not think this pattern is accidental.

In life many of us seek influence and leadership yet are unwilling to pay the price for such acclaim. It is no mistake that hard work played a significant role in both these men's lives. Likewise today the call we have as Christian's is the same. Work hard, trust God, maintain your ethics and God will do the rest and ensure that we have a legacy of excellence to leave behind.

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