Within Our Gates

Mrs. Elena Warwick:
Since I have decided to give her my assistance, I would be grateful if, as a Southerner yourself, Geraldine, you could point me the best way to do so.

Mrs. Geraldine Stratton:
Lumber-jacks and field hands. Let me tell you - it is an error to try and educate them. Besides, they don't want an education. Can't you see that thinking would only give them a headache? Their ambition is to belong to a dozen lodges, consume religion without restraint, and, when they die, go straight up to heaven. Wasting $5,000 on a school is plain silly when you could give $100 to old Ned, the best colored preacher in the world... who will do more to keep Negroes in their place than all your schools put together.

Old Ned:
[Old Ned visits his white friends] Y'all knows what I always preach. This is a land for the white man and black folk got ta know their place. Let the white man go to Hell with his politics, wealth, and sins. Give me Jesus! Leave it to me, gen'men, I always preach that the vices and sins of the white folk will end them up in Hell. When the Judgement Day comes, more Negroes than whites will rise up to Heaven. Yessir, white folks is mighty fine! [he leaves the room] [now outside, speaking to himself] Again, I've sold my birthright. All for a miserable 'mess of pottage. Negroes and whites - all are equal. As for me, miserable sinner, Hell is my destiny.