Booker Taliaferro Washington (1856-1915) was an American educator, author, orator, and advisor to multiple US presidents. Between 1890 and 1915 he was the dominant leader in the African-American community. He came from the last generation of black American leaders born into slavery, and became the leading voice of former slaves and their descendants. He was a key proponent of African-American businesses and one of the founders of the National Negro Business League, calling for black progress through education and entrepreneurship. This collection of talks on self-development given to students and faculty at the Tuskegee Institute, of which he was leader, was first published in 1902.