If one goes to-day into any Southern town, and asks for the leading and most reliable coloured man in the community, I believe that in five cases out of ten he will be directed to a Negro who learned a trade during the days of slavery.
Washington makes a general observation in his autobiography about the prevalence of formerly enslaved tradesmen as respected leaders in Southern Black communities.
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More from Booker T. Washington
We try to keep constantly in mind the fact that the worth of the school is to be judged by its graduates.
The more I come into contact with wealthy people, the more I believe that they are growing in the direction of looking upon their money simply as an instrument which God has placed in their hand for doing good with.
Despite superficial and temporary signs which might lead one to entertain a contrary opinion, there was never a time when I felt more hopeful for the race than I do at the present.
In the economy of God there is but one standard by which an individual can succeed—there is but one for a race.