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
Before the end of the year, I think I began learning that those who are happiest are those who do the most for others.
Until that question was asked it had never occurred to me that there was no period of my life that was devoted to play.
Despite this disappointment, however, I determined that I would learn something, anyway.
When freedom came, the slaves were almost as well fitted to begin life anew as the master, except in the matter of book-learning and ownership of property.