During our entire
stay of a month in Paris, both the American Ambassador and his
wife, as well as several other Americans, were very kind to us.
While in Paris we saw a good deal of the now famous American
Negro painter, Mr. Henry O. Tanner, whom we had formerly known in
America. It was very satisfactory to find how well known Mr.
Tanner was in the field of art, and to note the high standing
which all classes accorded to him. When we told some Americans
that we were going to the Luxembourg Palace to see a painting by
an American Negro, it was hard to convince them that a Negro had
been thus honoured. I do not believe that they were really
convinced of the fact until they saw the picture for themselves.
My acquaintance with Mr. Tanner reenforced in my mind the truth
which I am constantly trying to impress upon our students at
Tuskegee--and on our people throughout the country, as far as I
can reach them with my voice--that any man, regardless of colour,
will be recognized and rewarded just in proportion as he learns
to do something well--learns to do it better than some one
else--however humble the thing may be. As I have said, I believe
that my race will succeed in proportion as it learns to do a
common thing in an uncommon manner; learns to do a thing so
thoroughly that no one can improve upon what it has done; learns
to make its services of indispensable value.
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