Booker sat in the dirt road, his legs aching from the long walk, dust covered his clothes.

He had been walking for miles. His stomach growled but he didn't stop. He was on his way to school.

A real school. He had never been inside one before. He had heard there was a school in Virginia

that would let black students in. He didn't know if they would accept him, but he had

to try. He believed learning was the key to a better life. He stood up, brushed off his pants,

and started walking again. Booker T. Washington was born a slave in 1856. He was born in Virginia. His mother was also a slave. No one knew who his father was.

Booker's life as a child was very hard. He worked in the hot fields, picking crops. He was not

allowed to go to school. Slaves were not allowed to learn to read or write. When Booker was about

nine years old, the civil war ended. Slavery was over. He and

his family were free. They moved to West Virginia. Even though they were free, life was still

very hard. They were very poor. Booker had to work in a salt mine to help his family. He

worked from early in the morning until late at night. Still, he wanted

to learn. Booker taught himself the alphabet. He learned to read with an old book. He carried

it with him everywhere. At night he practiced writing with sticks in the dirt. He kept learning

any way he could. He heard about a school called the Hampton Institute.

It was in Virginia and it accepted black students. Booker knew he had to go there. He saved

money. He walked over 500 miles to get there. When he arrived, he was dirty and tired.

At first the school was not going to let him in, but Booker asked if he could work

to pay for school. The teacher gave him a test. She told him to clean a room. Booker swept the

floor, wiped every table, and dusted every chair. He cleaned the room until it was spotless.

When the teacher saw how well he worked, she let him in. Booker worked as a janitor and went to school.

He learned reading, math, and writing. He also learned to work with his hands. He believed

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