Booker T. Washington: “And until we get to the point where we can get happiness and supreme satisfaction out of helping our fellows, we are not…”

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.

From any point of view, I had rather be what I am, a member of the Negro race, than be able to claim membership with the most favoured of any other race.

In order to defend and protect the women and children who were left on the plantations when the white males went to war, the slaves would have laid down their lives.

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