Booker T. Washington: “In the sight of God there is no colour line, and we want to cultivate a spirit that will make us forget that there is…”

No one section of our country was wholly responsible for its introduction, and, besides, it was recognized and protected for years by the General Government.

Even to this day I can recall accurately the tortures that I underwent when putting on one of these garments.

The picture of several dozen boys and girls in a schoolroom engaged in study made a deep impression upon me, and I had the feeling that to get into a schoolhouse and study in this way would be about the same as getting into paradise.

I knew that if we failed it would injure the whole race.