I am afraid that you have got yourself in a tight
place." This farmer diagnosed the situation correctly, but his
frank words did not add anything to my comfort.
In the course of the journey from Tuskegee to Atlanta both
coloured and white people came to the train to point me out, and
discussed with perfect freedom, in my hearings, what was going to
take place the next day. We were met by a committee in Atlanta.
Almost the first thing that I heard when I got off the train in
that city was an expression something like this, from an old
coloured man near by: "Dat's de man of my race what's gwine to
make a speech at de Exposition to-morrow. I'se sho' gwine to hear
him."
Atlanta was literally packed, at the time, with people from all
parts of the country, and with representatives of foreign
governments, as well as with military and civic organizations.
The afternoon papers had forecasts of the next day's proceedings
in flaring headlines. All this tended to add to my burden. I did
not sleep much that night. The next morning, before day, I went
carefully over what I planned to say. I also kneeled down and
asked God's blessing upon my effort. Right here, perhaps, I ought
to add that I make it a rule never to go before an audience, on
any occasion, without asking the blessing of God upon what I want
to say.
Pages:
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230