Booker T. Washington, Builder o - African American History

Booker T. Washington, Builder of a Civilization. 163
The next quotation is from the paper of a native African
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boy. He says: "My first impression, or, at least, the first time I heard the name of
Booker T. Washington, was about the year 1902. I was then a young boy, just
arrived in one of the Native Training Institutions existing in South Africa. These
schools train young native boys primarily to become teachers in their
communities. As a native African I had just acquired the elementary use of the
English language, when the following incident took place: One, a native teacher
from the upper part of the country, was announced and that he was to give a
lecture to the 'Boys' Saturday Evening Society.'
"The meeting assembled, and I at once heard that the lecture was about a boy--
Booker T. Washington--who obtained an education through his struggles. . . . I
did not hear or understand more. But it is strange to say that this name was
pinned in the bottom of my heart. . . .
"It was during the coronation of King George V of England that I saw this
name. I had now finished that school and was teaching. It was printed in a
native paper that Booker T. Washington, an American Negro, made an excellent
speech. I cannot, however, say the exact words of the editor, which were in
greatest praise of that man, nor do I recall the circumstances under which Mr.
Washington had spoken.
"When I wanted to come to school in this country I made up my mind to find
the school--as I found later he was principal of one--where this man was leader;
and so I came to Tuskegee Institute. I found the editor had well described the
man's character and disposition."
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Still another boy writes: "I first saw Dr. Washington at the Appalachian
Exposition held at Knoxville, Tenn., in 1912. It was Negro Day and there were
thousands of Negroes out to hear Dr. Washington speak. . . . At times he would
make the people laugh and then again he would have a few crying. When I saw
the tears in the eyes of his listeners, I looked at Dr. Washington and thought of
him with awe because he was so highly honored. I thought of him with
admiration because he could speak so well, and I thought of him with pride
because he was a Negro. . . . His speech made me feel as if there were really a
24.03.2006