I am afraid that you
have got yourself in a tight place." This farmer diagnosed the
situation correctly, but his frank words did not add anything to my
comfort.
In the course of the journey from Tuskegee to Atlanta both
coloured and white people came to the train to point me out, and
discussed with perfect freedom, in my hearings, what was going to take
place the next day. We were met by a committee in Atlanta. Almost
the first thing that I heard when I got off the train in that city was
an expression something like this, from an old coloured man near by:
"Dat's de man of my race what's gwine to make a speech at de
Exposition to-morrow. I'se sho' gwine to hear him."
Atlanta was literally packed, at the time, with people from all
parts of the country, and with representatives of foreign governments,
as well as with military and civic organizations. The afternoon
papers had forecasts of the next day's proceedings in flaring
headlines. All this tended to add to my burden. I did not sleep much
that night. The next morning, before day, I went carefully over what
I planned to say. I also kneeled down and asked God's blessing upon
my effort. Right here, perhaps, I ought to add that I make it a rule
never to go before an audience, on any occasion, without asking the
blessing of God upon what I want to say.
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