Booker T. Washington, Builder o - African American History

Booker T. Washington, Builder of a Civilization. 239
half holiday; now he would allow the students to sleep a half-hour later in the
morning.
"In the same way the teachers would get an outing once or twice a year,
sometimes at night, sometimes in the day. As the teachers are on duty for both
day and night school, and as the students usually rise at 5:30 and breakfast at 6,
these little breaks were windfalls. They sent each one back to his labors with a
smile. He knew the value of change and the psychology of cheer. No wonder
then that when death closed his eyes both teachers and students went about
heavy of limb and with eyes that told too plainly what the heart felt.
"Just as he touched the students and teachers with little thoughtful deeds so he
touched the town and State, both white and black. One feature of his funeral
illustrated how complete had been his triumph over narrow prejudices. He was
always talking about the white man up the hollow, back in the woods. How
many times have I heard him urge picturesquely upon gatherings of teachers
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to 'win that old fellow who, when you begin to talk Negro education and Negro
schoolhouse, scratches his head, leans to one side, and looks far away. That's the
man,' he would say, 'that you've got to convince that Negro education is not a
farce.'
"Well, that man was at Booker T. Washington's funeral. He came there on foot,
on horseback, in buggies, in wagons. He was there in working clothes, in
slouched hat, with no collar.
"During the service I chanced to stand near the end of the platform. Pretty soon
I felt a rough brushing against my elbow. As I turned I saw a small white child,
poorly clad, being thrust upon the end of the flower-laden platform. Then
followed an old white man, collarless, wearing a dingy blue shirt and a coat
somewhat tattered. After him came two strapping fellows, apparently his sons.
All grouped themselves there and listened eagerly, freely spitting their tobacco
juice on the platform steps and on the floor.
"How thankful would Dr. Washington have been for their presence. What a
triumph! Ten years ago those men would not stop at the school. They cursed it,
cursed the whole system and the man at the head of it. But quietly, persistently,
he had gone on with that everlasting doctrine that service can win even the
meanest heart, that an institution had the right to survive in just so far as it
24.03.2006