Booker T. Washington: “Mistakes I knew would be made, but these mistakes would teach us valuable lessons for the future.”

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

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.

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…

Ever since I have been old enough to think for myself, I have entertained the idea that, notwithstanding the cruel wrongs inflicted upon us, the black man got nearly as much out of slavery as the white man did.