You may say that it is impossible for us to grow and develop, to get positions of trust and responsibility that will pay good wages, simply because we are coloured.
Booker T. Washington: “You may say that it is impossible for us to grow and develop, to get positions of trust and responsibility that will pay…”
Editor's note · Context
Washington asserts that systemic barriers exist that hinder African Americans from achieving positions of trust and responsibility.
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The whole machinery of slavery was so constructed as to cause labour, as a rule, to be looked upon as a badge of degradation, of inferiority.
When they saw that I was not afraid or ashamed to work, they began to assist with more enthusiasm.
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 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.