Booker T. Washington, Builder o - African American History

Booker T. Washington, Builder of a Civilization. 101
is leading his people along right lines--lines tending to promote better feeling
and better understanding between the two races. . . .
"Our country needs to have white and black people, sober, honest, frugal, and
thrifty. Booker T. Washington stands for these things. He advises and counsels
and leads toward these goals. Hear him and heed his words."
At the invitation of Superintendent Gwinn the colored school children of New
Orleans were given a half-holiday to hear Dr. Washington. He addressed them
in an arena seating more than five thousand people, which was given for the
occasion by its white owner.
To one of these Louisiana audiences Mr. Washington said: "Both races in the
South suffer at the hands of public opinion by reason of the fact that the outside
world hears of our difficulties, of crimes, mobs, and lynchings, but it does not
hear of or know about the evidences of racial friendship and good-will which
exist in the majority of communities in Louisiana and other Southern States
where black and white people live together in such large numbers. Lynchings
are widely reported by telegraph. The quiet, effective work of devoted white
people in the South for Negro uplift is not generally or widely reported. The
best white citizenship must take charge of the mob and not have the mob take
charge of civilization. There is enough wisdom, patience, forbearance, and
common
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sense in the South for white people and black people to live together in peace
for all time."
In short, Booker Washington met race prejudice just as he did all other
difficulties, as an obstacle to be surmounted rather than as an injustice to be
railed at and denounced regardless of the consequences.
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24.03.2006
CHAPTER SIX
GETTING CLOSE TO THE PEOPLE
ONE secret of Booker Washington's leadership was that he always had his ear