The Legislature of the State of Alabama has declared April 5, 2026, as Booker T. Washington Day to honor the significant contributions of Booker T. Washington, a prominent Black educator, author, and leader in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Washington is best known for his role as the first President of Tuskegee Institute, now Tuskegee University, where he focused on providing academic and vocational education to African Americans. Born into slavery in Virginia, Washington overcame numerous challenges to pursue education, eventually becoming a leading advocate for industrial-vocational training and economic self-reliance among Black Americans.

Washington's legacy includes his influential 1895 Atlanta Compromise speech, which called for cooperation between Black and white Americans and emphasized the importance of economic advancement. He also founded the National Negro Business League and advised several U.S. presidents on race relations. Through his writings and leadership, Washington promoted self-improvement and practical education as vital tools for African American empowerment, leaving a lasting impact on education, entrepreneurship, and the Civil Rights movement in Alabama and across the nation.