These great truths, however unpleasant, must be brought before the minds
of our people in its true and proper light, as we have been too delicate
about them, and too long concealed them for fear of giving offence. It
would have been infinitely better for our race, if these facts had been
presented before us half a century ago--we would have been now
proportionably benefitted by it.
As an evidence of the degradation to which we have been reduced, we dare
premise, that this chapter will give offence to many, very many, and
why? Because they may say, "He dared to say that the occupation of a
_servant_ is a degradation." It is not necessarily degrading; it would
not be, to one or a few people of a kind; but a _whole race of servants_
are a degradation to that people.
Efforts made by men of qualifications for the toiling and degraded
millions among the whites, neither gives offence to that class, nor is
it taken unkindly by them; but received with manifestations of
gratitude; to know that they are thought to be, equally worthy of, and
entitled to stand on a level with the elevated classes; and they have
only got to be informed of the way to raise themselves, to make the
effort and do so as far as they can.
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