We put people at the center of change.

Booker T. Washington

As an influential African-American, living in a time of escalating segregation, Booker T. Washington negotiated a course between accommodation and progress in advocating greater civil rights for blacks. His philosophy of “request” not “protest” allowed him to gain the respect of presidents and politicians. Washington believed education was a cornerstone for the advancement of blacks and his efforts to raise money for his beloved Tuskegee Institute helped secure its well-deserved reputation as a leading educational institution for African Americans. Read more on Booker T. Washington.

Social issues Booker T. Washington addressed:
•   Segregation
•   Education
•   Civil rights

Social issues that need to be addressed today:

•   Discrimination – 51 percent of hate crime victims are victimized because of the offender’s bias against a race.*
•   Education – Nearly 50 million students are heading off to approximately 99,000 public elementary and secondary schools for the fall term, and before the school year is out, an estimated $543 billion will be spent related to their education.**
•   Civil Rights – The Civil Rights Act of 1964 outlawed unequal application of voter registration requirements and racial segregation in schools, the workplace and facilities serving the public. Even though we have made progress, prejudice and racism are still with us. The need to protect the equal rights of all is as important as ever.

* Hate Crime Statistics, 2008 U.S. Department of Justice Federal Bureau of Investigation November 2009
** http://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/

Location

Extra Mile Pathway Map

The Extra Mile begins at the corner of Pennsylvania Avenue and 15th Street, NW and continues north on 15th Street to G Street, NW. There, at the Old Ebbitt Grill, it turns east on G Street for two blocks to its intersection with 13th Street. As honoree medallions are added in future years, the Pathway will be continued on G Street.

Transportation

The closest Metro stations are Metro Center on the red line and McPherson Square on the blue and orange lines.

Hours and Accessibility
The Extra Mile is located on the sidewalks of downtown Washington, D.C., so it is always open and fully accessible.

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Booker T. Washington