The Old Lion: A Novel of Theodore Roosevelt

by Jeff Shaara

I learned something out west, and it applies to the Negro right here in New York. I have had my share of prejudice, assuming the worst about a race just because they had a name: Indian, Negro, Hindu, Chinese. I have judged entire races as inferior or unable to compete with the white man. I admit there are times when I slip back into those feelings, no matter how hard I try to escape that. The point is, Mr. Hagedorn, there is one thing I have learned in my life: race doesn’t mean a thing when compared to achievement, skill, competence, ability. Give me a Negro any day who can outthink or outspeak a white man. Give me an Indian engineer who can build a bridge better than any white engineer, and on and on. You get my drift, right? A man has value because of what he can accomplish and the power of his brain, not the color of his skin. And I know full well, this kind of talk just gets me more enemies. Bring them on.”