#Educator

[uwmspeccoll]

Honoring Freedom: Juneteenth

On June 19, 1865, news of emancipation reached the last enslaved person in Galveston, Texas, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. Today, Juneteenth is a celebration of freedom, resilience, and Black history and culture.

This Juneteenth, we're highlighting two powerful works by author, educator and activist Booker T. Washington (1856-1915): Up from Slavery and Working with the Hands. Both volumes were published in New York by Doubleday, Page & Company. Originally published in 1901, our copy of Up from Slavery was published in 1902. Our copy of Working with the Hands is a first edition from 1904 and is illustrated with photographs by Frances Benjamin Johnston (1864-1952), an American photographer and photojournalist. 

Booker T. Washington’s landmark autobiography, Up from Slavery, chronicles his journey from slavery in Virginia to becoming one of the most influential Black leaders in the United States. The book details his early life, his education at Hampton Institute, and his founding of the Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute (now known as Tuskegee University) in Alabama. Washington advocates for self-reliance, industrial education, and racial uplift through dignity and hard work. This text was widely read and continues to be a foundational work in African American literature and history.

A lesser-known sequel to Up from Slavery, Working with the Hands serves as a practical and philosophical follow-up. In it, Washington elaborates on the day-to-day operations, goals, and educational philosophy of the Tuskegee Institute. The book emphasizes the dignity of manual labor and the importance of vocational training as a means of achieving Black economic empowerment in the post-Reconstruction South.

From emancipation to education, Washington’s life and legacy are deeply tied to the ongoing struggle for Black freedom and self-determination. His writings emphasize resilience, practical knowledge, and the power of building a future by hand and by heart.

-View previous Juneteenth posts

--Melissa, Distinctive Collections Library Assistant

[forever70s]

bell hooks, circa late 1970s

[disast3rtransp0rt]

There has been a lot of discourse surrounding rednote, but overall it's been a very humanity affirming experience for me. Am I getting super involved in the video/posting/following part of the app? No. Not in the slightest. I am not that kind of social media user.

But my inbox is an entirely different story.

I've been trading Lunar New Year recipes and discussing the pros and cons of Linkin Park with a slightly younger college woman, Jia Xuan. I'm especially hype to try her crispy sweet and sour pork recipe. We've discussed philosophy, the pros/cons of our different countries' religious practices, and compared our education styles. She's disappointed in the United States' gun violence but hugely curious about our ability to just say whatever we want online. And our work-life balance (not too different from theirs overall, but she was surprised at the different appearance of 'self motivation' between our cultures; as was I).

This is the kind of learning/socialization experience I was hoping for.

But yeah, I can also see how we both have some serious perspective shifts to make in the long run based on our preconceived understanding of each other’s culture. Are things as strict in China as the United States' education system leads us to believe? No. Are we so awfully dissimilar that we can't find common ground to critique our ways of life? No.

Are we both being overworked for our evil capitalistic overlords? Yeah, for sure.

And that's what a handful of billionaire assholes are terrified of, so keep at it. Keep making friends and discussing games, cosplay, food, and culture. Trade ideas and take notes about the ways we can support each other.

Because, to quote the ancient texts: "We didn't start the fire It was always burning, since the world's been turning We didn't start the fire No, we didn't light it, but we tried to fight it."

[jspark3000]

“You write in order to change the world, knowing perfectly well that you probably can't, but also knowing that literature is indispensable to the world.

“In some way, your aspirations and concern for a single man in fact do begin to change the world. The world changes according to the way people see it, and if you alter, even by a millimeter, the way a person looks or people look at reality, then you can change it.”

— James Baldwin, interview in The New York Times, Sep. 23rd 1979

[writerformanymuses]

i was giving the SAT to my older kiddos today (we have a program for young adults trying to get into college and allow them to take it for free), and two girls were talking as i was handing out scratch paper.

one of them said, "oh no! ao3 is blocked by the school's internet!"

me, an active ao3 user who has a VPN on her computer to get around that problem while taking my lunch, actively trying to walk faster bc oh no. oh nonononono. not here.

later on they admitted to eachother they're reading dramione fanfictions, and i did recognize some of the names from tiktoks where it's very clear it's porn.

children, let me warn you, your teachers now were around for the mass boom of fanfiction in the early 00's into the 10's. i know what slash is, i know what every rule # means, and, yes, we do judge you for your ship choices.

"it's giving puppy play but like in a good way" out of a 17 year olds mouth makes me want to wash my brain out with bleach.

however, i admit, i was reading far worse far younger. so, to each their own i guess.

[basicallyanotherwitchesthing]

John J. Loeper - Understanding Your Child Through Astrology - Paperback - 1971

[wouldyourecognizethisperson-poll]

[lumenveritatis]

Something I think everyone needs to hear. 👍

[prismjiinxdesigns]

Brindleface

[forever70s]

Nikki Giovanni in 1973 🌹

[mimi-0007]

John Wesley Cromwell

September 5, 1846 – April 14, 1927

HAPPY BIRTHDAY - Rest in Peace

a lawyer, teacher, civil servant, journalist, historian, and civil rights activist in Washington, D.C. He was among the founders of the Bethel Literary and Historical Society and the American Negro Academy, both based in the capital. He worked for decades in the administration of the US Post Office.

[yourdailyqueer]

Wazina Zondon

Gender: Female

Sexuality: Queer

DOB: N/A

Ethnicity: Afghan

Nationality: American

Occupation: Educator, public speaker, activist

[scotianostra]

On 7th April 1718 Hugh Blair was born in Edinburgh.

Hugh Blair was created Regius Professor of Rhetoric and Belles Lettres in 1762, holding the post until 1784. His appointment marked the beginning of the teaching of English Literature at Edinburgh University and the birth of the oldest English department in the world.

Blair was born in Edinburgh and entered Edinburgh University in 1730, aged 12! He graduated in 1738 or 1739, depending on the source, with the degree of M.A. and writing a thesis entitled 'De fundamentis et obligatione legis naturae'. In 1741, Blair became licensed to preach and held successively a parish in Fife, Lady Yester's Church in Edinburgh, Canongate Parish in the city, and Edinburgh's St. Giles'.

The latter charge was given in June 1758 and he held it until his death in 1800. In 1759 Blair started giving lectures on composition at Edinburgh University and in 1760 he was made Professor of Rhetoric, that is a scholar and educator who specializes in the study and teaching of rhetoric, the art and science of effective persuasion and communication, including analyzing and crafting persuasive language in various forms

Hugh Blair was part of Edinburgh's distinguished literary circle of the day, and was a contemporary of David Hume, Adam Ferguson , and Adam Smith. Blair championed the publishing of the Ossian fragments by James Macpherson. His own lectures and sermons were translated and read widely abroad.

Hugh Blair died at home in Argyle Square on 27th December 1800 and is buried in Greyfriars Kirkyard.

[afrotumble]

Ilyasah Shabazz, 62.

Ilyasah is an accomplished author, educator, and motivational speaker. As the third daughter of Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz, she has dedicated her life to preserving her parents' legacy. She is the author of several books, including "Growing Up X" and "Betty Before X," offering insights into her family's history and impact.

Join us in celebrating Ilyasah Shabazz's contributions to literature, education, and legacy.

[resetwithtay]

Soon to be an Educator 🫶🏾🤞🏾👩🏾‍🏫