Booker T. Washington

Consider the change that has come in twenty years in the discussion of the Negro problem.

Severe competition and the great stress of life have led them to learn to do things more thoroughly and to exercise greater economy; but time, I think, will bring my race to the same point.

In a degree I felt that my whole future life depended upon the thoroughness with which I cleaned that room, and I was determined to do it so well that no one could find any fault with the job.

And in this connection it is well to bear in mind that whatever other sins the South may be called to bear, when it comes to business, pure and simple, it is in the South that the Negro is given a man’s chance in the commercial world, and…

Nor was this kindness confined to those who were connected with the steamer; it was shown by all the passengers also.

But in our case, from the captain down to the most humble servant, we were treated with the greatest kindness.

The officials of the Exposition were anxious that I should assume this responsibility, but I declined to do so, on the plea that the work at Tuskegee at that time demanded my time and strength.

This is a demonstration of the efficiency of the Hampton-Tuskegee idea that stands like the demonstration of the value of democratic institutions themselves—a demonstration made so clear in spite of the greatest odds that it is no longer…

Those who have to wait to have somebody else put ideas into their minds are not worth much of anything.

In partial answer to this I would say that I think I have learned, in some degree at least, to disregard the old maxim which says, “Do not get others to do that which you can do yourself.” My motto, on the other hand, is, “Do not do that…

Then, too, I could not see how my conscience would permit me to spare the time from my work and be happy.

I felt that I had in some degree accomplished my object—that of getting a hearing from the dominant class of the South.