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  LiveWire / Teen Forums / Race, Ethnicity & Nationality / Adding Reply

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Topic Was Abraham Lincoln a Racist?
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Original Post
JasonHot Posted at 5:34 pm on Nov. 29, 2008
Here's what Lincoln said:  "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."
-Abraham Lincoln, Oct. 13, 1858

so is Lincoln a racist?

Replies
StopXXwatch Posted at 5:26 pm on Nov. 30, 2008
Just because he freed the slaves does NOT mean he wasnt a racist he probably just wanted African Americans to AT LEAST be treated humanely.
Forgot My Name Posted at 5:00 pm on Nov. 30, 2008
Quote: from MushroomSatsujin at 5:34 pm on Nov. 29, 2008

Hm...considering he freed the slaves...

He freed them only to send them to Africa, but he got assassinated and that part of the plan never took place.
Hoop Jargon Posted at 3:39 pm on Nov. 30, 2008
He was probably, in modern terms, a racist. So was the vast, vast majority of Europeans at the time, even the most left leaning. Racism doesn't always mean upmost contempt. It can be ignorance as much or more than hatred. Perhaps Lincoln saw slaves as a wounded animal or something, and was filed by compassion from its plight.
Sudo XE Posted at 2:58 pm on Nov. 30, 2008
indeed, he was

and though he did free the slaves, it was, as previous posters have guessed, done on the basis of military necessity and war powers.

  • Slave labor was helping the South. Emancipation would encourage the slaves to rebel.

  • It would give the North the moral high ground.

  • It would close the door on France and England coming in on the side of the Confederacy; both thought slavery was evil, and if they came in under these circumstances, they would be supporting slavery.

    and it's important to note that the Emancipation Proclamation only applied to certain of the states in rebellion - no slaves within Union lines were freed

    or, as Secretary of State William Seward said, "We show our sympathy with slavery by emancipating slaves where we cannot reach them and holding them in bondage where we can set them free."  

    Christ, I love 1st block

    Edit: and Lies My Teacher Told Me

  • kidd rune Posted at 1:38 pm on Nov. 30, 2008
    Of course he was!

    Racism was quite common in those days.

    You know he wanted to send Blacks back to Africa.

    The quote also continues:


    and I will say in addition to this that there is a physical difference between the White and black races which will ever 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.

    Check:
    4th Lincoln-Douglas debate, 18 ix. Collected Works Vol. 3, pp. 145-146

    whoisabs Posted at 9:59 pm on Nov. 29, 2008
    Quote: from Moonscar at 9:55 pm on Nov. 29, 2008

    Quote: from Bud2400 at 9:28 pm on Nov. 29, 2008

    I don't think it's morally acceptable for black people to be slaves, but at the same time, I think black people are inferior, naturally stupid, lazy, and genetically prone to committing crimes, and therefore should be barred from holding any office in the United States, kept separate from the white population, and ought to be sent back to Africa. Am I not racist?

    Are you serious or are you trying to make a point?



    poor inept racist is at it again it seems

    Bud2400 Posted at 9:57 pm on Nov. 29, 2008
    Quote: from Moonscar at 9:55 pm on Nov. 29, 2008

    Are you serious or are you trying to make a point?


    That's essentially what honest Abe said, from that quote and many others.

    Moonscar Posted at 9:55 pm on Nov. 29, 2008
    Quote: from Bud2400 at 9:28 pm on Nov. 29, 2008

    I don't think it's morally acceptable for black people to be slaves, but at the same time, I think black people are inferior, naturally stupid, lazy, and genetically prone to committing crimes, and therefore should be barred from holding any office in the United States, kept separate from the white population, and ought to be sent back to Africa.  Am I not racist?

    Are you serious or are you trying to make a point?

    Bud2400 Posted at 9:28 pm on Nov. 29, 2008
    I don't think it's morally acceptable for black people to be slaves, but at the same time, I think black people are inferior, naturally stupid, lazy, and genetically prone to committing crimes, and therefore should be barred from holding any office in the United States, kept separate from the white population, and ought to be sent back to Africa. Am I not racist?
    PeaceLoveAndCandy Posted at 5:49 pm on Nov. 29, 2008
    Quote: from Malignant Melanoma at 5:48 pm on Nov. 29, 2008

    LOL. Thanks for making my night with your ridiculous question.

    I dont see how this question is at all ridiculous.
    whoisabs Posted at 5:48 pm on Nov. 29, 2008
    Quote: from MushroomSatsujin at 5:34 pm on Nov. 29, 2008

    Hm...considering he freed the slaves...

    considering he made three major attempts to deport every black out of the USA...

    malignant melanoma Posted at 5:48 pm on Nov. 29, 2008
    LOL. Thanks for making my night with your ridiculous question.
    PeaceLoveAndCandy Posted at 5:47 pm on Nov. 29, 2008
    Quote: from JasonHot at 5:46 pm on Nov. 29, 2008

    Quote: from PeaceLoveAndCandy at 8:44 pm on Nov. 29, 2008

    Quote: from JasonHot at 5:43 pm on Nov. 29, 2008

    Quote: from crimeinstereo at 8:41 pm on Nov. 29, 2008

    He freed the slaves, for Gods sake!

      i think that was a tactical military thing -- he was hoping the negro slaves would rise up and kill the massas all over the south, saving the Union troops time and lives. course it never happened.


     
     Jason,  

     Just if the Slaves revolted.


    But the slaves in the confedercy never revolted even after Lincoln made em free, so it didnt work as a military tactic.



    I think the Slaves should have also been given the land that they were forced to work on.
    JasonHot Posted at 5:46 pm on Nov. 29, 2008
    Quote: from PeaceLoveAndCandy at 8:44 pm on Nov. 29, 2008

    Quote: from JasonHot at 5:43 pm on Nov. 29, 2008

    Quote: from crimeinstereo at 8:41 pm on Nov. 29, 2008

    He freed the slaves, for Gods sake!
     

     i think that was a tactical military thing -- he was hoping the negro slaves would rise up and kill the massas all over the south, saving the Union troops time and lives.  course it never happened.



    Jason,

    Just if the Slaves revolted.


    But the slaves in the confedercy never revolted even after Lincoln made em free, so it didnt work as a military tactic.

    PeaceLoveAndCandy Posted at 5:44 pm on Nov. 29, 2008
    Quote: from JasonHot at 5:43 pm on Nov. 29, 2008

    Quote: from crimeinstereo at 8:41 pm on Nov. 29, 2008

    He freed the slaves, for Gods sake!

    i think that was a tactical military thing -- he was hoping the negro slaves would rise up and kill the massas all over the south, saving the Union troops time and lives. course it never happened.



    Jason,

    Just if the Slaves revolted.

    Most recent 15 of 27 previous replies displayed.