James Lee Dickey: An Analysis of One African-American's Leadership in Jim Crow Texas

On Booker T. Washington

Dr. Dickey thanked the people that voted him Citizen of the Year but added that he would have to do something to irritate them because his people distrusted Negroes that white people liked too much. “That was Booker T. Washington’s trouble. Booker T. Washington was the greatest leader we ever had, but white people liked him too well, and the Negroes said: ‘…now, there’s something wrong…’ and they become kind of suspicious of a Negro leader where the white people talk about him as a ‘fine fellow.’” In no uncertain terms, Dr. James Lee Dickey was a fine fellow, but was also beloved by all in this small town of Taylor, Texas.

 

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