Booker T. Washington: “If you do this, when you get ready to leave this institution, you will find that it has been worth your while to have…”

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.

In order to defend and protect the women and children who were left on the plantations when the white males went to war, the slaves would have laid down their lives.

This tenderness and sympathy on the part of those held in bondage was a result of their kindly and generous nature.

I do not know how many have noticed it, but I think that it will be found to be true that there are few instances, either in slavery or freedom, in which a member of my race has been known to betray a specific trust.