Booker T. Washington, Builder o - African American History

Booker T. Washington, Builder of a Civilization. 220
24.03.2006
sternly practical. His mind worked with the rapidity of flashes of lightning,
particularly when he was aroused. This led him at times to feel and show
impatience in dealing with slower-minded people, particularly his subordinates.
He was often stirred to righteous indignation by injustice, but always kept his
temper under control. He had a lucid mind which reasoned from cause to effect
with machine-like accuracy. His intuitions were amazingly keen and accurate.
In other words, his subconscious reasoning powers were very highly developed.
Consequently his judgments of men and events were almost infallible. Although
practically devoid of personal vanity, he was a very proud and independent man,
and one who could not brook dictation from any one or bear to be under
obligation to any one. He had the tenacity of a bulldog. His capacity for
incessant work and his unswerving pursuit of a purpose once formed, were a
constant marvel to those who surrounded him. While he was without conceit or
vanity he
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had almost unlimited self-confidence. While it cannot be said that he overrated
his own abilities, neither can it be said that he underrated them. His sympathies
were easily aroused and he was abnormally sensitive, but he never allowed his
emotions to get the better of his judgment. He forgave easily and always tried to
find excuses for people who wronged, insulted, or injured him. In repartee he
could hold his own with any one and enjoyed nothing more than a duel of wits
either with an individual or an audience.
Less than a month before he died, when he was wasted by disease and suffering
almost constant pain, he received this letter of appeal from Madame Helena
Paderewski:
New York, October 26, 1915.
MY DEAR MR. WASHINGTON: I am writing you a very personal letter on a
subject that is close to my heart, and I know the message it carries will find a
response in your generous sympathy. It is with great pleasure that I recall our
meeting, some years ago, and I have watched the success of your work among
your people with sincere satisfaction, for I have always been an advocate of the
principles for which you stand, the uplift of the colored race.
It is because I know you have ever directed your broad influence toward the
most worthy causes that I am asking you in the name of the starving babies and
their helpless mothers, to tell your people that we need them in our work of