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Booker T. Washington Booker T. Washington was the most influential black leader and educator of his time. He influenced people in many parts of the world. He also became the leader of his people. Booker was born into slavery in 1854 on a Virginia plantation. He was born in a one room log cabin. Booker’s mother was a slave woman and his father was a white man whom he never knew. After the Government freed the black slaves, Booker and his family moved to Malden, West Virginia. Booker worked at a salt furnace. He started his day at four in the morning. Booker always wanted to be educated. One day, he heard a Negro reading to a group of workers. When Booker returned home, he told his mother that he wanted to learn how to read. Since Booker had to earn money to help support his family, he thought his only option would be to attend school at night. However, he was ultimately able to enroll in a school during the day. On the first day of school, Booker was nervous while teacher was taking attendance because he realized that all the children had two or more names. Booker only knew of his first name, so he decided to choose a second name. When the teacher asked him his name he said, “Book