The absence of freedom pushes individuals to rethink the values and morals that have accustomed them to understand the slave world in contrast to a free world. Up From Slavery: An Autobiography by Booker T. Washington chronicles the journey of the young enslaved Washington during his transition to adulthood. Enslaved Washington and his family suffered under the institution of slavery, but once emancipated the obstacles to securing a home, a job, and an education did not prevent Washington from achieving notable success as a leader for the African American community. He recognized the cruelty and moral wrong of slavery and used it as a basis to build something greater than the ten million Negroes who inhabit this country, who themselves or whose ancestors attended the school of slavery and find themselves in a stronger and more hopeful condition. , materially, intellectually, morally, and religiously as a result of the realization that the institution of slavery was greater than that of slaves and their white counterparts. Washington let slavery hinder his aspiration to greatness, which describes the deontology of Immanuel Kant's ethical theory, which postulates “necessity” and “universality” as moral conduct. That our imperative, a principle or conclusion about what we have reason to do, expressed using the term “ought” that, out of the need to do good will, the right thing to do is our universal duty and is something that is naturally good for our moral character. Washington's career in the public sector went beyond the expectations of society, especially former slave owners. Today's public administrators should model themselves on the lessons Washington learned throughout his career as a public administrator, in order to create a different… medium… in the most moralistic way possible. Washington put aside his racial prejudices because he knew that hatred towards whites would not improve his condition. By transcending the limitations that society expected of him, he demonstrated that by staying true to core values and having high expectations of oneself one can achieve the unimaginable. Public administrators today should value education, go against the grain of society by doing what is morally or politically right, be eager to make changes, but above all do what will bring the greatest good to the world, so that future generations can be inspired and committed to changing the world. Everyone should aspire to be humanitarians because, if it weren't for people with strong ethical beliefs, the world would be worse off. Works Cited Washington p.106Washington p.112Washington p.142Wikipedia 2013
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