Political Quotes

W.E.B. Du Bois: Their great defect as laborers lies in their lack of incentive beyond the mere pleasure of physical exertion.

On the recordJanuary 1, 1903
Their great defect as laborers lies in their lack of incentive beyond the mere pleasure of physical exertion.
Said by
W.E.B. Du Bois

Editor's note · Context

This statement identifies a key perceived limitation of Black laborers, attributing their lack of economic drive to a focus on immediate physical satisfaction.

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