Booker T. Washington: “Shall we prepare ourselves to do something as well as anybody else or better?”

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

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.

Even the most ignorant members of my race on the remote plantations felt in their hearts, with a certainty that admitted of no doubt, that the freedom of the slaves would be the one great result of the war, if the Northern armies conquered.

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