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Washington, Booker T., 1856-1915

"Up from Slavery: an autobiography"


I met some very interesting characters during my travels. As
illustrating the peculiar mental processes of the country people,
I remember that I asked one coloured man, who was about sixty
years old, to tell me something of his history. He said that he
had been born in Virginia, and sold into Alabama in 1845. I asked
him how many were sold at the same time. He said, "There were
five of us; myself and brother and three mules."
In giving all these descriptions of what I saw during my mouth of
travel in the country around Tuskegee, I wish my readers to keep
in mind the fact that there were many encouraging exceptions to
the conditions which I have described. I have stated in such
plain words what I saw, mainly for the reason that later I want
to emphasize the encouraging changes that have taken place in the
community, not wholly by the work of the Tuskegee school, but by
that of other institutions as well.

Chapter VIII. Teaching School In A Stable And A Hen-House
I confess that what I saw during my month of travel and
investigation left me with a very heavy heart. The work to be
done in order to lift these people up seemed almost beyond
accomplishing. I was only one person, and it seemed to me that
the little effort which I could put forth could go such a short
distance toward bringing about results.


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