My mother was very sympathetic with my efforts to learn to read. And even though she was totally ignorant of book learning, she was ambitious for her children and helped me in every way she could.

Right in the middle of my struggles for education there came along a young colored boy from Ohio who had learned to read. As soon as the colored folks found out about him, they would have gatherings after work so that he could read a newspaper for them. I really envied him! And I felt that he had every reason to be proud of himself.

Shortly after this, the colored folks started having discussions about opening a school for their children.