It could not have been expected that a people who had spent generations in slavery, and before that generations in the darkest heathenism, could at first form any proper conception of what an education meant.
Washington reflects on the initial challenges formerly enslaved people faced in understanding the true purpose and meaning of education.
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I do not know how many have noticed it, but I think that it will be found to be true that there are few instances, either in slavery or freedom, in which a member of my race has been known to betray a specific trust.
But taking place at the time it did, and for the reason that it did, no one could ever make me believe that my mother was guilty of thieving.
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.