Booker T. Washington: “I wish that you might realize, perhaps as you have never realized before, how anxious they are that you should succeed…”

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.

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.

Before the end of the year, I think I began learning that those who are happiest are those who do the most for others.

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