From a black man, mind you... famous Booker T Washington, ex-slave, impoverished negro, experienced in real community organizing, fund raising and business operation, in contrast to Commie Obama, phoney organizer, arrogant elitist..
OBummer pretends that attacking the rich will pay off his massive debt.
Never mind the rich are already up to their elbows in charity.
Which goes to show the money isnt the issue, its about CONTROL. Bog Givernment (bog is more accurate than big) doesnt like people to directly contribute to charaties and business development, its better for the Givernment to STEAL the money, then re distribute it after siphoning off most of it to feed a bloated bureaucracy.
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My experience in getting money for Tuskegee has taught me to have no patience with those people who are always condemning the rich because they are rich, and because they do not give more to objects of charity. In the first place, those who are guilty of such sweeping criticisms do not know how many people would be made poor, and how much suffering would result, if wealthy people were to part all at once with any large proportion of their wealth in a way to disorganize and cripple great business enterprises. Then very few persons have any idea of
the large number of applcations for help that rich people are constantly being flooded with. I know wealthy people who receive as many as twenty calls a day for help. More than once, when I have gone into the offices of rich men, I have found half a dozen persons waiting to see them, and all come for the same purpose, that of securing money. And all these calls in person, to say nothing of the applications received through the mails. Very few people have any idea of the amount of money given away by persons who never permit theiir names to be known. I have often heard persons condemned for not giving away money, who, to my own knowledge, were
giving away thousands of dollars every year so quietly that the world knew nothing about it.
As an example of this, there are two ladies in New York, whose names rarely appear in print, but who, in a quiet way, have given us the means with which to erect three large and important buildings during the last eight years. Besides the gift of these buildings, they have made other
generous donations to the school. And they not only help Tuskegee, but they are constanty seeking opportunities to help other worthy causes.
Up From Slavery, An Autobiography of Booker T Washington, A.L Burt Co. NY 1901 p. 182, 183
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An old friend, now deceased once told me "dont despise the rich, they are the ones who build bridges..."
And more from Washington on slavery. Currently its the US Government sponsoring MEXICAN slavery. Washington mentions the "general government" was partly behind African slavery.
Very interesting is his remarks on the effects on the Whites.
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I pity from the bottom of my heart any nation of body of people that is so unfortunate as to get entangled in the net of slavery. I have long since ceased to cherish any spirit of bitternes against the Southern white people on account of the enslavement of my race. No one section of our
country was wholly responsible for its introduction, and, besides, it was recognized and protected for years by the General government. Having once got is tentacles fastened on to the economic and social life of the Republic, it was no easy matter for the country to relieve itself
of the institution. Then, when we rid ourselves of prejudice, or racial feeling, and look facts in the face, we must acknowledge that, not- withstanding the cruelty and moral wrong of slavery, the ten million Negroes inhabiting this country, who themselves or whose ancestors
went through the school of American slavery, are in a stronger and more hopeful condition, materially, intellectually, morally, and religiously, than is true of an equal number of black people in any other portion of the globe. This is so to such an extent that Negro in this country, who themselves or whose forefathers went through the school of slavery, are constantly returning to Africa as missionaries to enlighten those who remainted in the
fatherland. This I say, not to justify slavery - on the other hand, I condemn it as an institution, as we all know that in America it was established for selfish and financial reasons, and not from a missionary motive, but to call attention to a fact, and to show how Providence so often uses men and institutions to accomplish a purpose. When persons ask me in these
days how, in the midst of what sometimes seem hopelessly discouraging conditions, I can have such faith in the future of my race in this country, I remind them of the wilderness through which and out of which, a good Providence has already led us.
Ever since I have been old enough to think for myself, I have entertained the idea that, notwith-standing the cruel wrongs inflicted upon us, the black man got nearly as much out of slavery as the white man did. The hurtful influences of the institution were not by any means confined to the Negro. This was fully illustrated by the life upon our own plantation.
The whole machinery of slavery was so constructed as to cause labour, as a rule, to be looked upon as a badge of degredation, or inferiority. Hence labour was something that both races on the slave plantation sought to escape. The slave system on our place, in a large measure, took the spirit of self-reliance and self-help out of the white people. My old master had many boys and girls, but not one, so far as I know, ever mas-tered a
single trade or special line of productie industry. The girls were not taught to cook, sew, or to take care of the house. All of this was left to the slaves. The slaves, of course, had little personal interest in the life of the plantation, and their ignorance prevented them from learning how to do things in the most improved and thorough manner. As a result of the
system, fences were out of repair, gates were hanging half off the hinges, doors creaked, window-panes were out, plastering had fallen but was not replaced, weeds grew in the yard. As a rule, thre was food for whites and blacks, but inside the house, and on the dining-room table, there was wanting that delicacy and refinement of touch and finish which can make
a home the most convenient, comfortable, and attractive place in the world. Withal there was a waste of food and other materials which was sad. When freedom came, the slaves were almost as well fitted to begin life anew as the master, except in the matter of book - learning and ownership of property.The slave owner and his sons had mastered no special industry. They unconsciously had imbibed the feeling that manual labour was not the proper thing for them. On the other hand, the slaves in many cases, had mastered some handicraft, and none were ashamed, and few unwilling, to labour. Ibid, pp 16-18
