A deplorable spirit
Subject(s): Dinners and dining, Lynching, Race relations, Racism--Political aspects, Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919, Tillman, Benjamin R. (Benjamin Ryan), 1847-1918, Washington, Booker T., 1856-1915
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Senator Benjamin R. Tillman of North Carolina says no Southern gentleman will now share a table with President Roosevelt because he invited Booker T. Washington to dine at the White House. This is a sentiment shared among many Southern politicians, which is concerning. That Black people are treated extremely unfairly in the South is well-known and understood, but the public is supposed to believe that they are treated this way because they are disproportionately criminal. The response by Southern leaders to Washington’s dinner with Roosevelt show that this is not actually the issue at hand, rather that racism is. By degrading others, these men degrade themselves.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1904-11-04
Creator(s)
Language
English
Period
U.S. President – 1st Term (September 1901-February 1905)
Page Count
2
Production Method
Record Type
Multi-image
Resource Type
Rights
These images are presented through a cooperative effort between the Library of Congress and Dickinson State University. No known restrictions on publication.
Citation
Cite this Record
Chicago:
A deplorable spirit. [November 4, 1904]. Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o299671. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Unknown. A deplorable spirit. [4 Nov. 1904]. Multi-image.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. December 11, 2025. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o299671.
APA:
Unknown., [1904, November 4]. A deplorable spirit.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o299671.
Cite this Collection
Chicago:
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-manuscript-division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. December 11, 2025. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-manuscript-division.
APA:
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-manuscript-division.
