In my early life I used to cherish a feeling of ill will toward any one who spoke in bitter terms against the Negro, or who advocated measures that tended to oppress the black man or take from him opportunities for growth in the most complete manner.
Washington shares his past feelings of resentment towards those who spoke negatively about African Americans and their opportunities.
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I can scarcely imagine any torture, except, perhaps, the pulling of a tooth, that is equal to that caused by putting on a new flax shirt for the first time.
Despite this disappointment, however, I determined that I would learn something, anyway.
I pity from the bottom of my heart any nation or body of people that is so unfortunate as to get entangled in the net of slavery.
As a rule, not only did the members of my race entertain no feelings of bitterness against the whites before and during the war, but there are many instances of Negroes tenderly caring for their former masters and mistresses who for some…