事业 · 创业者自述
布克·T·华盛顿：力争上游·摘录 35
布克·T·华盛顿《力争上游》· Up from Slavery · 领导
From any point of view, I had rather be what I am, a member of the Negro race, than be able to claim membership with the most favoured of any other race. I have always been made sad when I have heard members of any race claiming rights or privileges, or certain badges of distinction, on the ground simply that they were members of this or that race, regardless of their own individual worth or attainments. I have been made to feel sad for such persons because I am conscious of the fact that mere connection with what is known as a superior race will not permanently carry an individual forward unless he has individual worth, and mere connection with what is regarded as an inferior race will not finally hold an individual back if he possesses intrinsic, individual merit. Every persecuted individual and race should get much consolation out of the great human law, which is universal and eternal, that merit, no matter under what skin found, is, in the long run, recognized and rewarded. This I have said here, not to call attention to myself as an individual, but to the race to which I am proud to belong.
出处：
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/2376
定位：Excerpt 35 · 核对日期：2026-10-19 · 核验：短摘录
白话
无论从哪个角度看，我都宁愿做现在的我——黑人种族的一员，也不愿声称自己属于任何其他种族中最受优待的那一支。每当我听到有人仅仅因为属于某个种族就主张权利或特权，或以此作为优越的标志，而不顾个人的价值和成就，我总是感到难过。我为他们难过，因为我深知：仅仅与所谓优越种族沾边，并不能永久推动一个人前进，除非他有个人价值；而仅仅与所谓低劣种族沾边，最终也不能阻止一个人，如果他拥有内在的个人优点。每个受迫害的个人和种族都该从一条伟大的人类法则中获得安慰：优点，无论藏在什么肤色下，长远来看都会被认可和奖赏。我说这些不是为标榜自己，而是为我引以为傲的种族。
上下文
华盛顿在自传中回应种族优越论，强调个人价值高于种族出身。当时美国盛行种族歧视，他作为黑人领袖常面对此类偏见。
今日一问
你是否曾因某人的出身而低估他，或因自己的出身而看轻自己？今天可以如何更看重个人价值？
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