Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1905-07-14
PROUD TO BE A NEGRO

| Booker T. Washington, at Georgia In
dustrial College, Savannah, June IL
For myself have the most profound
belief that no race in ancient or modern
| history has ever equalled the America
Negroin development in all directions. 1
further believe that in the fulness of
| time we shall demonstrate TO the world
that We can become a potential and help
ful part OF the highest and best civiliza-
tlon' because OF his progress in the pre-
| sent and my faith in the future / was
never prouder than l am today OF being
a Negro and OF being identified in some
slight degree with the struggles and
triumphs OF race, in which have such
confidence
We need not only the Industrial school.
but the college and professional school
as weli' for a people so largely segregated
as we are from the main body of the
people must have their professional lead
ers who shall be able to measure with
others In all forms OF intellectual life. 1t
is well to remember however, that our
teachers, ministers, lawyers and doctors
VIII prosper just in proportion as they
have about them an intelligent and skill
full producing class
Whatever faults the South may have
when 1t comes to affording an opportunity
Tor people to earn a living by skilled or
common labor, or in the field OF business
or education, 1t is not to be despised The
mere earning of living is not all, but 1t
counts for much in the strivings of life.
There are bad white men in the South
ana there are good white men In the
South; and all OF them are not our
enemies We should do all in our power
TO encourage these friendly, well-disposed
ones to stand by and support us.
The question is often asked, what is
expected to be accomplished through the
education of the Negro? What should
education do for race? That is a ques-
ton which is constantly being asked, and
especially question which the people of
our country are vitality interested in in
It's application to the black man in this
country Education is OF little value for
any race except as 1t is used in a manner
10 increase human usefulness and human
happiness
The Negro race needs professional men
college and university graduates. II
needs at the same time a large number OF
our people thoroughly skilled and educa-
ted In the various Industries upon which
the masses of our people depend for sus-
tenance.
Education should help the Negro to he
come reliable in his labor. The charge is
constantly brought against us that we
cannot be depended upon as laborers for
continuous service that If the wage Is
paid on Saturday night, the employer is
the laborers win return on Monday morn
ing; that many will not return until the
last cent has been spent. Our leaders
should see TO 1t that our people are con-
stantly taught to shake off and get ria
of this unfortunate habit. The disnosi-
ton to move year by year from one plan
tation to another, from one community to
another, is OF little advantage to us.
mo one should seek to hide the fact
that the race labors under certain disad-
vantages At the same time, when All
conditions Of life are considered, / do NOT
hesitate to say that so far as nv exne-
rience and observation are concerned. the
Negro has better chance to work ont
his salvation here in the South than an
any other portion of this or any other
country In point of material possessions
In education, in moral and religious
growth we cannot find anywhere in the
world 100000 OF colored people who are
so far ahead as is true OF the 600 0oo
here In the Southern States.
"one other lesson which we must i'm