Canty matriculated into Tuskegee's night school to earn his tuition and expenses for day school, and he was assigned to the institute's blacksmith shop.
In total, Canty was a student at Tuskegee for five years.
While attending Tuskegee, Canty was influenced by Margaret Murray Washington's positive engagement with students, and by the encouragement he received from the school's superintendent of industries, John H. Washington.
Prior to his graduation from Tuskegee, Booker T. Washington hired Canty as an instructor for the institute's night school and blacksmithing shop.
He graduated from the institute on May 29, 1890.
At his commencement ceremony, Canty delivered a speech entitled, "The True Leader."
In its coverage of the commencement, the Montgomery Advertiser described Canty as "a first class blacksmith."

Following graduation, Canty was also hired as the institute's commandant and head of the institute's night school for a year.
As the institute's commandant, Canty received the title of "Colonel" as head of the institute's military corps of students.
He resigned his positions at Tuskegee in order to pursue a more lucrative position in the mercantile business.
Canty matriculated into Tuskegee's night school to earn his tuition and expenses for day school, and he was assigned to the institute's blacksmith shop. In total, Canty was a student at Tuskegee for five years. While attending Tuskegee, Canty was influenced by Margaret Murray Washington's positive engagement with students, and by the encouragement he received from the school's superintendent of industries, John H. Washington. Prior to his graduation from Tuskegee, Booker T. Washington hired Canty as an instructor for the institute's night school and blacksmithing shop. He graduated from the institute on May 29, 1890. At his commencement ceremony, Canty delivered a speech entitled, "The True Leader." In its coverage of the commencement, the Montgomery Advertiser described Canty as "a first class blacksmith."
Following graduation, Canty was also hired as the institute's commandant and head of the institute's night school for a year. As the institute's commandant, Canty received the title of "Colonel" as head of the institute's military corps of students. He resigned his positions at Tuskegee in order to pursue a more lucrative position in the mercantile business.
James M. Canty