"You can't hold a man down without staying down with him"

This quote by Booker T. Washington is a suggestion that injustice and discrimination are not only incorrect, but likewise ineffective. Washington is stating that if you try to oppress somebody, you will be dragged down with them. Oppression is a type of control that relies on worry and intimidation, and it is ultimately self-defeating. Washington is suggesting that rather of attempting to oppress someone, we must concentrate on uplifting and empowering them. This quote is a suggestion that we need to aim to develop a society where everybody is respected and given the chance to reach their complete capacity. It is a call to action to produce a more fair and just society, where everyone is given the same opportunities and rights.