There is absolutely no place in this land for the arrogant,
aggressive, school-spoilt Afro-American who wants to live
without manual labor. Therefore, it is cruelty to the
negro, as well as an injustice to the whites, to tax the
latter (the whites] to give "higher education" to the
former [the negro)
... The only salvation for the negro in America is the
acceptance, in good faith, of his legal rights as the full
measure of what is due him. The sooner he abandons his
attempt to share political power and privileges with the
whites, the better for him....
We made this civilization; the negro never made this, or
How does Watson characterize African Americans who
are highly educated and work as professionals?
O He thinks they are due more legal rights, and whites
should support them.
O He thinks they should pay higher taxes to support
education.
O He thinks they are arrogant and spoiled, and there
is no place for them in America.
O He thinks they are the only salvation for other
African Americans in the nation.
any other.
- Thomas Watson, 1908
Koo