‘The Kingdom of God’: Booker T. Washington (A Sunday Evening Talk, October 7, 1906)

“…Now we often think of the Kingdom of God as being a thousand miles away; above the sun, above the moon, above the stars, above the clouds, anywhere, just so it is miles and miles away. The Kingdom must be so very far away. That is a wrong idea of the Kingdom of God. The Bible says the Kingdom is right within us. That brings to my mind that I want to help you to make up your minds to get to the point, as soon as possible, where you can have that power of self-control which will enable you to make the place, heareafter, wherever you are, the most beautiful and the happiest place there is in existence. If this cannot be done, then the teaching of the Bible is not true. You can make within yourselves a little Kingdom, where every minute of the day will be happiness…”- “The Kingdom of God,” October 7, 1906, (Tuskegee, Alabama)

Unbeknownst to some, Booker T. Washington’s studies did not conclude his studies after graduating from Hampton Institute. He would continue his studies at Wayland Seminary, which later merged with Virginia Union University. (There he spent nearly 2 years—“six months and a year” (to be precise)—studying theology under George Mellen Prentiss King, the President of Wayland Seminary who Washington credited for his training in English and speaking. Notwithstanding this, while there are a great many allusions, inferences and quite explicit references from Washington on the subject, there are virtually no long treatises, sermons or books from Washington regarding what were his deep-seated theological beliefs, and this Sunday evening talk to students titled, “The Kingdom of God,” perhaps explains why: Mr. Washington appears to have possessed a deeply intimate faith—though periodically expressed in words—that was most profoundly manifested in a life filled with works.

And in this talk he attempts to convey to students how they might do likewise through the possession of a “kingdom…within themselves” that emanates a ‘happiness” that would equip them to do the same. (Unlike his seminary training at Wayland or as would occur at other religiously founded African American institutions in the South, Mr. Washington did not share a single scripture reference in this talk—although he shared Bible verses in many other speeches, sermons and talks.) It seems apparent that he was hoping that the meaning of his talk, “The Kingdom of God,” would be easily absorbed and understood.

Washington would not only be criticized from northern “race men”concerning his program at Tuskegee, he would also receive criticism from African American churches at the time for Tuskegee not having an explicit statement with respect to a religious emphasis. (It should be known that the founding of most private historically black colleges and universities were associated with religious churches or organizations. Besides the most well-known African American religious organizations—African Methodist Episcopal, African Methodist Episcopal Zion and the Colored Methodist Episcopal churches—most privately founded HBCUs were largely founded and supported through the assistance of northern white philanthropy and white religious organizations.)

All the same, beyond his desire to ensure that Tuskegee Institute remained publicly silent on the more antagonistic racial issues of the day, he also did not wish—though a most admirable work—for the institution to be singularly focused or directed to the training of ministers for clergy work. His institution was to be for the training of men and women whose vocation was not limited to “ministry” and “preaching,” which he often discussed. Since finding its germination in the period of American slavery, the role of the preacher was the most widely accessible vocational calling that had been available—or permitted—for African Americans. In many ways, he was a historical forerunner of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in that both men distinguished their career and callings from the traditional configuration of the preacher.

Notwithstanding, it is clear that Booker T. Washington wanted to communicate to his students and all constituencies that both his faith and the institution would be best known by its observable fruit. And like most good fruit grown upon tall trees or upon vines, it all begins with the cultivation, nourishment and watering of the seed of this message deeply lodged within their hearts.