I was also painfully conscious of the fact that, while I must be true to my own race in my utterances, I had it in my power to make such an ill-timed address as would result in preventing any similar invitation being extended to a black man again for years to come.
Washington describes the heavy burden of responsibility he felt to represent his race effectively without jeopardizing future opportunities for Black speakers.
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I was supremely happy in the opportunity of being able to assist somebody else.
I have never seen one who did not want to be free, or one who would return to slavery.
As a rule, not only did the members of my race entertain no feelings of bitterness against the whites before and during the war, but there are many instances of Negroes tenderly caring for their former masters and mistresses who for some…