Booker T. Washington: “Nobody can give us those qualities merely by praising us and talking well about us; and when we possess them, nobody can…”

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

Having once got its tentacles fastened on to the economic and social life of the Republic, it was no easy matter for the country to relieve itself of the institution.

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.

Despite this disappointment, however, I determined that I would learn something, anyway.