Excerpt from “A Plea for His Race,” The Constitution (Atlanta, GA), September 19, 1895

A PLEA FOR HIS RACE

Booker T. Washington Tells About the Efforts of the Negro

HIS SPEECH A THOUGHTFULL ONE

He Was Given a Splendid Reception and His Speech Was Frequently Interrupted by Applause.

The colored race had a representative on the programme of the opening exercises of whom they have great reason to be proud.

Booker T. Washington, president of the Tuskegee Normal and Industrial school, spoke for the negro.  It was the first time a colored orator had even stood upon a platform before such a vast audience with white men and women.  It was an event in the history of the race.

No one expected such a speech from Washington as he made.  There was not a superfluous word in it.  It was in the very best of taste and there was not a jarring note in it.  It made a magnificent impression and was frequently interrupted by applause.

The Constitution went on to quote Washington’s speech in full.

Source: The Constitution.  Atlanta, GA  Thursday, September 19, 1895. (Document 5.2.4)