In 1911, Booker T. Washington was attacked for being an African American in New York City

In 1911, Booker T. Washington was attacked for being an African American in New York City

This is a brief look back, as reported in American newspapers, when Booker T. Washington was attacked for simply being an African American man in New York City.

Born enslaved in Virginia in 1856, upon his gradating from Hampton Institute (now Hampton University) Booker T. Washington was hired as the first president of Tuskegee Institute in 1881, which later became Tuskegee University. Booker T. Washington would develop the institution, founded by Lewis Adams, from scratch into one of the most powerful educational institutions in the nation for African Americans. As a result of his work as an educator and public speaker, Washington became influential in business and politics. Booker T. Washington died November 14, 1915.

Residence of Booker T. Washington on the campus of Tuskegee Institute as seen in 1906

March 1911

April 1911

October 1911
The Broad Ax was published between 1895-1931 as a weekly newspaper, originally in Salt Lake City, Utah, by Julius F. Taylor.
Taylor relocated the newspaper to Chicago, Illinois in 1899 due to conflict with the Latter Day Saint. The Broad Ax was viewed as a “controversial” black newspaper in Chicago due to its criticism of Booker T. Washington. The Broad Ax often made extravagant circulation claims.

November 1911

The Broad Ax was published between 1895-1931 as a weekly newspaper, originally in Salt Lake City, Utah, by Julius F. Taylor.
Taylor relocated the newspaper to Chicago, Illinois in 1899 due to conflict with the Latter Day Saint. The Broad Ax was viewed as a “controversial” black newspaper in Chicago due to its criticism of Booker T. Washington. The Broad Ax often made extravagant circulation claims.