Booker T. Washington, Builder o - African American History

Booker T. Washington, Builder of a Civilization. 81
24.03.2006
railroad coaches clean.
"Second, it should be borne in mind that little or nothing will be accomplished
by merely talking about white people who are in charge of railroads, etc. The
only way to get any results is to go to the people and talk to them and not about
them."
Compare this definite, reasonable, and effective form of protest with the bitter,
vague, and futile outcry against the "Jim Crow" car which is frequently heard.
Booker Washington sent a marked copy of the Century Magazine containing the
article, "Is the Negro Having a Fair Chance?" to the head of every railroad in the
South calling attention to the portion relating to unfair treatment in passenger
service for his people. In response he received letters which in almost every case
were friendly and in many cases showed an active desire to coÖperate in the
improvement of the conditions complained of. Mr. Washington published
extracts from these letters in the Negro press prior to his Railroad Day proposal
in order to show that the railroad officials were for the most part at least willing
to give a respectful hearing to the complaints of their Negro patrons if properly
approached. President Stevens of the Chesapeake Ohio Railway Company
wrote that he had had one hundred copies of the
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article distributed among the officials and employees of his road. Mr. J. M.
Parker, Receiver and General Manager of the Arkansas, Louisiana Gulf Railway
Company, wrote: "I have your favor with enclosure. . . I shall take pleasure in
reading this article, and from glancing through it I am inclined to think that the
statement that the Negro is not getting a square deal in the way of transportation
facilities is well founded." Mr. William J. Black, Passenger of the Atchison,
Topeka Sante FÉ Railway System, wrote in part: "You will, no doubt, be
pleased to learn that the Santa FÉ has already provided equipment for colored
travel in conformity with the plan outlined in your article." From all or most of
the Southern railways came letters of the general tenor of those quoted, and thus
was the way prepared for the successful inauguration of the Railroad Days.
Constantly as he labored for the rights of his people he never sought to obtain
for them any special privileges. Unlike most leaders of groups, classes, or races
of people he never sought any exclusive or special advantages for his followers.
He did not want the Negro to receive any favors by reason of his race any more
than he wanted him to be discriminated against on that account. He wanted all