Booker T. Washington: “Plant yourself in the community, and by economical living, year by year, manage to buy land for yourself, on which to…”

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.

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

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

When they saw that I was not afraid or ashamed to work, they began to assist with more enthusiasm.