The actual sight of a first-class house that a Negro has built is ten times more potent than pages of discussion about a house that he ought to build, or perhaps could build.
Booker T. WashingtonRead
At the bottom of education, at the bottom of politics, even at the bottom of religion, there must be for our race economic independence.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Economic independence is essential for the progress of education, politics, and religion.
Booker T. Washington emphasizes the fundamental role of economic independence in uplifting not just individuals, but the entire community. He argues that for any institution—be it education, politics, or religion—to truly serve its purpose, it must be supported by a foundation of financial self-sufficiency, thereby highlighting the interconnectedness of these societal pillars.
Themes
EducationEconomic IndependenceProgressSocietyFreedom
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech about the importance of financial literacy.
More from Booker T. Washington
All quotes →Leaders have devoted themselves to politics, little knowing, it seems _x000D_ that political independence disappears without economic independence _x000D_ that economic independence is the foundation of political independence.
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You go to school, you study about the Germans and the French, but not about your own race. I hope the time will come when you study black history too.
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Nothing ever comes to one, that is worth having, except as a result of hard work.
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I shall allow no man to belittle my soul by making me hate him.
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If I have done anything in life worth attention, I feel sure that I inherited the disposition from my mother.
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