Booker T. Washington: “We want to have you feel that this religion is a part of your lives, and that it is meant to be a help to you from day…”

Even the most ignorant members of my race on the remote plantations felt in their hearts, with a certainty that admitted of no doubt, that the freedom of the slaves would be the one great result of the war, if the Northern armies conquered.

I think I never saw a community of people so happy over anything as were the coloured people over the prospect of this new building.

Before the end of the year, I think I began learning that those who are happiest are those who do the most for others.

These discussions showed that they understood the situation, and that they kept themselves informed of events by what was termed the “grape-vine” telegraph.