I was born in to slavery and rose to lead the Tuskegee institute who am i?

You are Booker T. Washington. Born into slavery in 1856, he became a prominent African American educator, author, and orator. Washington is best known for founding the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama, where he promoted vocational education for African Americans in the post-Civil War United States. His philosophy emphasized self-help, economic independence, and practical skills.