Primary sourceSpeech16 October 1907
The Negro in America
Andrew Carnegie · 16 October 1907
A 1907 address Carnegie delivered to the Philosophical Institution of Edinburgh on the progress of African Americans since slavery.
This is Carnegie's own 1907 lecture, tied to his support for Booker T. Washington and Tuskegee Institute.
About this source
What it is
This is the printed text of a speech given by Andrew Carnegie to the Philosophical Institution of Edinburgh on 16 October 1907, titled The Negro in America. It was published that year by R. Carruthers & Sons.
Why it matters
Carnegie used this platform to discuss the condition of African Americans decades after the end of slavery, linking his views to his support for educators such as Booker T. Washington and institutions like Tuskegee. The speech reflects how a wealthy industrialist of his era framed questions of race, freedom and progress for a European audience.
Look closer
- Why might Carnegie have chosen this subject for a Scottish audience?
- What does his language about freedom and citizenship suggest about attitudes of his time?
- What voices or perspectives are missing from a speech given by someone outside the community it discusses?
This speech is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Andrew Carnegie on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.
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