Booker T. Washington (1856-1915) was a Black American author and educator. Born the son of an unknown white man and a slave, Washington put himself through school, became a teacher and eventually the founder and first president of Tuskegee University. He was arguably the most prominent and influential African American leader of his day. He wrote an autobiography, Up From Slavery which became a bestseller, generated national discussion of racial issues and led to the author being invited to dinner at the White House by Theodore Roosevelt--an act which created a surge of controversy. His work still provides a source of inspiration and debate today.