Booker T. Washington was born into slavery and went on to become a leading African American educator, author, and advisor to U.S. presidents — in 1901 he became the first Black American invited to dine at the White House, a visit that sparked national controversy at the time. He founded the Tuskegee Institute, a school dedicated to teaching practical skills and building opportunity for Black students. He believed education was the surest path to a better future.