Black-belt diamonds; gems from the speeches, addresses, and talks to students of Booker T. Washington ... |
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Bootblacking as an Art
Still another opportunity is going, and we
laugh when we mention it. When we think
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the same way that white persons have elevated
it, we realize that after all it was an opportunity;
and that was boot-blacking. Of course,
here in the South we have that to a large extent,
because the competition is not quite so sharp
as in the North. You go into Montgomery,
and want to get your shoes blacked. Very
soon you will meet a boy with a box thrown
over his shoulders. When he begins to polish
your shoes, you will very likely see that he
uses a very worn shoe-brush, and unless you
watch him very closely, the chances are
he will polish your shoes with stove-polish.
But you go into any Northern city, and you will
find that such a boot-black as you meet in
Montgomery does not stand any chance of
making a living.
Sunday Evening Tuskegee Talks.
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