Though she was totally ignorant, she had high ambitions for her children, and a large fund of good, hard, common sense, which seemed to enable her to meet and master every situation.
In his autobiography, Washington reflects on his mother's character, highlighting her practical wisdom and aspirations for her children despite her illiteracy.
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From the time that I can remember anything, almost every day of my life had been occupied in some kind of labour; though I think I would now be a more useful man if I had had time for sports.
The hurtful influences of the institution were not by any means confined to the Negro.
In this connection I have never been able to understand how the slaves throughout the South, completely ignorant as were the masses so far as books or newspapers were concerned, were able to keep themselves so accurately and completely…