I have always been made sad when I have heard members of any race claiming rights or privileges, or certain badges of distinction, on the ground simply that they were members of this or that race, regardless of their own individual worth or attainments.
Washington expresses his disapproval of any group asserting rights or distinctions based solely on racial membership, rather than individual merit.
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More from Booker T. Washington
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.
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.
The hurtful influences of the institution were not by any means confined to the Negro.