Here's a little taste of the article below. Direct quote from a speech given by Lincoln in 1858:
“I will say, then, that I am not, nor ever have been, in favor of bringing about in any way the social and political equality of the white and black races— and I, as much as any other man, am in favor of having the superior position assigned to the white race.”
Hmmmmmmmmm...
http://www.theroot.com/views/was-lincoln-racist?GT1=38002
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2 comments:
I would rather call Lincoln a "White Supremacist," as Lerone Bennett Jr. used in his essay. "White Supremacist" may very well be a euphemism for racist, but to call the man who helped save the union, while freeing slaves [though he may not have initially wanted to] a racist seems too severe. I think Lincoln deserves more respect than the bad connotations of being called a racist.
Historical facts, such as the quote in the entry or the other factual findings about Lincoln in the article, never really give us the entire person, so we create our own. And typically our opinions are influenced by a few key facts, which is probably why so many still erringly believe Lincoln – the legendary Great Emancipator – led the Union into the Civil War to end slavery. So, I agree with the article: even though Lincoln may have not even liked the idea of having equal rights among whites and blacks, and may have been a little racist, this flaw definitely makes him more human and less saintly. And in that era, many white northerners, who hardly had contact with blacks, advocated for abolition (because it was the moral position to favor) though they did not even like the race. Maybe that was how Lincoln was and maybe his opinion of blacks as inferior softened as he carried on his task of Emancipation and met amazing people like Frederick Douglass. Perhaps the ardent Harriet Beecher Stowe had something to do with it too. [I like Harriet Beecher Stowe.] So even if I do not agree with his philosophy of white supremacy, I am sure grateful for his contributions to this nation.
So simply: yes [in reference to the question and title of the post], but I'd like to think he changed his beliefs later on in life.
I guess one of the great things about the subject of history is that it is all one huge story, told from countless points of views.
Happy Birthday, Mr. Lincoln! 02/12/1809
My favorite Lincoln quote, from his second inaugural:
"Fondly do we hope, fervently do we pray, that this mighty scourge of war may speedily pass away. Yet, if God wills that it continue until all the wealth piled by the bondsman’s two hundred and fifty years of unrequited toil shall be sunk, and until every drop of blood drawn with the lash shall be paid by another drawn with the sword, as was said three thousand years ago, so still it must be said ‘the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether’."
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