BEFORE LORD ALL ARE SAME
A young black man got off the train. He pulled out a heavy suitcase and a heavier valise from the carriage behind him, and set them down on the platform.
He straightened his shoulders and took a deep breath. It would be a long walk out of the station, with his heavy luggage.
Bracing himself, he lifted the suitcase first, and then bent down to pick up the valise when he felt someone lifting it up from behind him. Before he could even turn to see it up who it was, a pleasant voice spoke to him, “You are heavily laden, brother. May I help you with your luggage? I, too, am going your way!”
The young black man turned around to see a distinguished looking white American lifting up his valise with a smile. For a moment, he resisted, his hand still on the valise. But the white man was insistent. With a grateful smile, he let go of the valise. The white man picked it up and walked with him, exchanging pleasantries.
The black man was Booker T. Washington and the white man was Theodore Roosevelt.
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