It would seem that education and emigration go together with us, for as soon as a man rises amongst us, capable, by his genius and learning, to do us great service, just so soon he finds that he can serve himself better by going elsewhere.
Douglass reflects on the unfortunate trend where educated and talented Black individuals often leave their communities to find opportunities elsewhere.
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A son of toil himself, he was linked in brotherly sympathy with the sons of toil in every loyal part of the republic.
But we are not here to applaud manly courage, save as it has been displayed in a noble cause.
It was in the air, and men breathed it and were permeated by it, often when they were quite unconscious of its presence.