New book sheds new light on Lincoln's racial views

[sandmangeck]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_lincoln_colonization

[sandmangeck]

"For the sake of your race, you should sacrifice something of your present comfort for the purpose of being as grand in that respect as the white people," Lincoln said, promoting his idea of colonization: resettling blacks in foreign countries on the belief that whites and blacks could not coexist in the same nation.

Lincoln went on to say that free blacks who envisioned a permanent life in the United States were being "selfish" and he promoted Central America as an ideal location "especially because of the similarity of climate with your native land — thus being suited to your physical condition."

[ugly_bassplayer]

3,2,1....cue Dr Cheese......

[RestInPieces]

Well, this is not NEW information, although this is a very interesting topic I must admit.

[hrodbert696]

Originally Posted by RestInPieces

Well, this is not NEW information, although this is a very interesting topic I must admit.

+1. That Lincoln favored returning blacks to Africa is nothing new. The book may add some detail or nuance to our understanding of his views, but I'm not seeing anything so revolutionary.

[phall2112]

http://www.amazon.com/Real-Lincoln-A.../dp/0761536418

[DwaynieAD]

in an era where people would rather have them enslaved or killed, i think lincolns views seem pretty forward thinking. gotta put it in context

[JimB52]

Sometimes result is more important than intent or motivation.

[Steve]

While hardly new news, it is a fascinating tidbit to chew on. If for no other reason, it shows exactly how much relevant and pertinent information can get swept under the rug and nearly forgotten. That entire period of American history 1850-1900 or so may be the most rewritten, edited, sanitized and just plain BS'ed story on the planet.

It's my understanding that the concept of "colonization" was getting some traction at the time and he might have very well been able to pull it off had it not been for Booth.

In any event it goes to show how a couple of degrees deflection can change the world over time. Had Lincoln lived the would and his place in history would have been a far, far different. Maybe better, maybe worse but certainly different.

IMHO

[IconBasser]

Abraham Lincoln helped deliver Blacks from slavery. Who gives a rat's ass what he thought about them. It's our choices that define who we are, not our convictions.

[irishpride28]

Originally Posted by ugly_bassplayer

3,2,1....cue Dr Cheese......

exactly my thought as soon as i saw the thread title

[Deluge Of Sound]

Originally Posted by DwaynieAD

in an era where people would rather have them enslaved or killed, i think lincolns views seem pretty forward thinking. gotta put it in context

No, John Brown was forward thinking. Lincoln was a moderate who would've never issued the Emancipation Proclamation if it wasn't politically beneficial.

[jonathan_matos5]

what a minute! overt racism in the 19'th century?!?!

I am appalled. i don't want to be apart of any country that has a past that includes racism. . .

[MEKer]

Originally Posted by DwaynieAD

in an era where people would rather have them enslaved or killed, i think lincolns views seem pretty forward thinking. gotta put it in context

Absolutely--put it in context.

BTW, Lincoln also met more than once with Frederick Douglas over the question. And the colonization idea really did not dominate Lincoln's thoughts that long.
Back in the 1960's Bruce Catton wrote a 3 volume set of the Civil War that is superb--not focused on the bloody battles (altho included) so exclusively, but rather the politics and how the racial question grew to dominate the war. Well researched and referenced to the nth degree, it is a terrific read and gives a clearer view of the politics of the nation than any other civil war history I have ever read and I probably have at least 50 different books on it.
A must-read for anyone truly interested in that aspect (political) of the war.

[malthumb]

Originally Posted by ugly_bassplayer

3,2,1....cue Dr Cheese......

For today's matinee, the part of Dr. Cheese will be played by Malthumb......<j/k>


As others have said, you have to put it in context with the times. If Lincoln were in power in the 1950's he would probably have been a mainstay of the "separate but equal" crowd. I don't get the impression that he liked black people or disliked black people. They were just a political liability in his attempts to keep the union together. He apparently had the impression that blacks and whites would have difficulty in coexisting in 19th century America, and since white folk weren't goin' nowhere.....

I'm not gnna run out and burn all my $5 bills over this one.

[hbarcat]

To put this in further context, just about everyone believed in racist ideas before our modern understanding of genetics and ethnicity around the mid 1900's. Most Europeans and those of similar descent believed that people of African ancestry were inherently inferior. The belief was widespread even among those who abhorred slavery.

[DwaynieAD]

Originally Posted by Deluge Of Sound

No, John Brown was forward thinking. Lincoln was a moderate who would've never issued the Emancipation Proclamation if it wasn't politically beneficial.

or you could read the important part of what I typed.

[Sav'nBass]

Originally Posted by Deluge Of Sound

No, John Brown was forward thinking. Lincoln was a moderate who would've never issued the Emancipation Proclamation if it wasn't politically beneficial.

+1DoS

However I think it was more practical than political.. His main goal was to save the Union... Not to end slavery..

Originally Posted by hbarcat

To put this in further context, just about everyone believed in racist ideas before our modern understanding of genetics and ethnicity around the mid 1900's. Most Europeans and those of similar descent believed that people of African ancestry were inherently inferior. The belief was widespread even among those who abhorred slavery.

This is true... and these notions persists today in many places.. You can't legislate morality.. all you can do is try to live it in the things you do and are willing to work for

[Woodchuck]

Originally Posted by ugly_bassplayer

3,2,1....cue Dr Cheese......

Originally Posted by irishpride28

exactly my thought as soon as i saw the thread title

Fail!

[Deluge Of Sound]

Originally Posted by DwaynieAD

or you could read the important part of what I typed.

Clearly we disagree on what the important part is.