Booker T. Washington: “It has thus come about that the school is taking a more direct and helpful hold on life in the South than anywhere else…”

I pity from the bottom of my heart any nation or body of people that is so unfortunate as to get entangled in the net of slavery.

I cannot remember having slept in a bed until after our family was declared free by the Emancipation Proclamation.

These discussions showed that they understood the situation, and that they kept themselves informed of events by what was termed the “grape-vine” telegraph.

From the time that I can remember anything, almost every day of my life had been occupied in some kind of labour; though I think I would now be a more useful man if I had had time for sports.