online casino us credit cards online gambling for us players usa real money slots online gambling slots for real money

Today in Blackness: Dispelling the Lincoln Myth

» 10 February 2009 »

A quote from the much-revered President Abraham Lincoln from a speech he delivered in 1858, three years before he became President and just seven years before his assassination:

“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—that I am not, nor ever have been, in favor of making voters or jurors of Negroes, nor of qualifying them to hold office, nor to intermarry with white people; and I will say in addition to this, that there is a physical difference between the white and black races which I believe will forever forbid the two races living together on terms of social and political equality. And inasmuch as they cannot so live, while they do remain together there must be the position of superior and inferior, and I, as much as any other man, am in favor of having the superior position assigned to the white race.”

One hundred and fifty years later America’s first black president, Barack Obama, was sworn into office with his hand on Lincoln’s Bible.

Read Henry Louis Gates’ whole article, “Was Lincoln A Racist?” here. Interesting stuff.

Related posts:

  1. Today In Blackness: Music Producer Jermaine Dupri Gives Former Harvard Law Review President Barack Obama Advice
  2. TODAY in BLACKNESS: Arrested, finally.
  3. NEXT WEEK in BLACKNESS: “Black People Go Bye-Bye” Says the AP
  4. TODAY IN BLACKNESS: No Room in the Inn?

Tags:

Trackback URL

You should totally follow TWiB! on Twitter!

Sign up for TWiB in your Inbox

Never Miss Out On The Awesome!
  • http://noelanimahana.wordpress.com/ Noel

    Finally, people are talking about the real deal.

  • http://noelanimahana.wordpress.com Noel

    Finally, people are talking about the real deal.

  • Spinster

    Yes. It boggled my mind that he cited Lincoln as his hero. Lincoln made it quite obvious how he REALLY felt about Blacks.

  • Spinster

    Yes. It boggled my mind that he cited Lincoln as his hero. Lincoln made it quite obvious how he REALLY felt about Blacks.

  • L.

    I agree with both of the comments above. It behooves me that in this day and age of information, we are still holding this man up to be some sort of hero for blacks. I’ve always known the truth about Lincoln, his attitudes, and what he really did during the Civil War. I read about it (in a good ol’ fashioned book waaay before this internets thing became the sh.t). Even my AP US History teacher taught us about it…. yes, my history teacher…. my white, Republican, voted Bush twice history teacher.

  • L.

    I agree with both of the comments above. It behooves me that in this day and age of information, we are still holding this man up to be some sort of hero for blacks. I’ve always known the truth about Lincoln, his attitudes, and what he really did during the Civil War. I read about it (in a good ol’ fashioned book waaay before this internets thing became the sh.t). Even my AP US History teacher taught us about it…. yes, my history teacher…. my white, Republican, voted Bush twice history teacher.

  • L.

    * Sorry, I meant: It is ill-behooving to me that in this day and age…

  • L.

    * Sorry, I meant: It is ill-behooving to me that in this day and age…

  • http://thelonestarphoenix.blogspot.com/ Jennifer

    Could you talk about Che Guevara next, if you haven’t already? If I see one more black person in a Che shirt, I’m going to beat them with a copy of The Motorcycle Diaries.

  • http://thelonestarphoenix.blogspot.com Jennifer

    Could you talk about Che Guevara next, if you haven’t already? If I see one more black person in a Che shirt, I’m going to beat them with a copy of The Motorcycle Diaries.

  • http://the411.bostonoffline.com/2009/03/09/monday-link-up-21/ Monday Link Up | BostonOffline.com

    [...] Today in Blackness: Dispelling the Lincoln Myth [TWIB] [...]

  • http://www.dangerousnegro.com/ Malcolm Turner

    thank you…not enough people know about this. The great historian Dr. John Henrik Clarke speaks more on the subject.

  • http://www.dangerousnegro.com Malcolm Turner

    thank you…not enough people know about this. The great historian Dr. John Henrik Clarke speaks more on the subject.

  • L

    Three days before he was shot, Lincoln stood on the second floor of the White House and made a speech to a crowd assembled outside celebrating the recent Union victory over the Confederacy. With his troops and Frederick Douglass very much in mind, Lincoln told the cheering crowd, which had demanded that he come to the window to address them, that he had decided to recommend that his 200,000 black troops and “the very intelligent Negroes” be given the right to vote.

    While I don’t make excuses for his early thoughts on race, I do think it is important to recognize that Lincoln thoughts evolved on the matter. This was due in large part to the persuasiveness of Frederick Douglass. I think we should consider this before we brand Lincoln as a ‘racist’.

  • L

    Three days before he was shot, Lincoln stood on the second floor of the White House and made a speech to a crowd assembled outside celebrating the recent Union victory over the Confederacy. With his troops and Frederick Douglass very much in mind, Lincoln told the cheering crowd, which had demanded that he come to the window to address them, that he had decided to recommend that his 200,000 black troops and “the very intelligent Negroes” be given the right to vote.

    While I don’t make excuses for his early thoughts on race, I do think it is important to recognize that Lincoln thoughts evolved on the matter. This was due in large part to the persuasiveness of Frederick Douglass. I think we should consider this before we brand Lincoln as a ‘racist’.

  • http://intheroundsistacipher.blogspot.com/ Moon of AquaMoon

    Yes he was a racist. Not a question to debate. He didnt free us cuz he loved Black folks so much, this was an economic decision and a means to crippling the south to make way for a thriving industrial north. Slavery is an institution that bred racism in this country. And it depends on which of Lincoln’s inaug speeches you read as to what opinion you want to have of him.

  • http://intheroundsistacipher.blogspot.com/ Moon of AquaMoon

    Yes he was a racist. Not a question to debate. He didnt free us cuz he loved Black folks so much, this was an economic decision and a means to crippling the south to make way for a thriving industrial north. Slavery is an institution that bred racism in this country. And it depends on which of Lincoln’s inaug speeches you read as to what opinion you want to have of him.

  • http://intheroundsistacipher.blogspot.com/ Moon of AquaMoon

    @Jennifer

    Just curious, what’s your opinion of Che?

  • http://intheroundsistacipher.blogspot.com/ Moon of AquaMoon

    @Jennifer

    Just curious, what’s your opinion of Che?

  • http://howard53545.wordpress.com/2009/03/28/the-racist-mr-lincoln/ The Racist Mr. Lincoln « Moveable Feast

    [...] Today in Blackness: Dispelling the Lincoln Myth [...]

  • http://marlabbbb12.blog.com/2010/01/06/how-to-find-the-best-za-motorcycle-insurance/ marlie marie Elfers

    Hello, are u A mate quite recently bought a old smaller motorbike, not yet positive what make it is! My other mates are now mocking him and telling him that its a scooter, not a motorbike! I would like to put them in their place but what realy is the difference between a motorcycle an a scooter? Can you answer?

  • http://marlabbbb12.blog.com/2010/01/06/how-to-find-the-best-za-motorcycle-insurance/ marlie marie Elfers

    Hello, are u A mate quite recently bought a old smaller motorbike, not yet positive what make it is! My other mates are now mocking him and telling him that its a scooter, not a motorbike! I would like to put them in their place but what realy is the difference between a motorcycle an a scooter? Can you answer?

  • http://www.sixsingles.com free dating sites

    Everyone should just be looking for friendship and say random things on their status.

    free dating sites

  • http://www.sixsingles.com free dating sites

    Everyone should just be looking for friendship and say random things on their status.

    free dating sites

  • http://www.hi5dating.com Dating

    I read lots of art of conversation by DAle carnegie and others, and all agree Lincoln was a very skilled person in talking to people and not criticising.
    Real nice guy, he diseurves his rank.