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I believe that this is a racist idea in that it wishes to determine the fates of persons solely on the basis of their race. He might, though, have been looking at how American society would react to a rush of newly-liberated black people and seen blacks as not having much of a potential life here, or just thinking, "We got them from Africa; we should put them back there," a thought showing cultural bias in that it assumes that if one's mother was born in Europe, one is still a born American, but if it was Africa, one remains an African.
I don't really think you can label someone as complex as Lincoln racist or not, especially because we're applying the label to a Civil War era figure from our 21st century perspective.
by Nightwatchdog on March 4th, 2010
Yes he was a racist - but being a racist doesn't make him a bad person - he was just a product of his times - and he tried to overcome many, ( but not all ), of his own preconceived bigotries.
Lincoln was a man - for the most part he was a good man - honor him for his honest efforts and his earnest attempt to match his words with action.
by carmenator8 on March 4th, 2010
To say Lincoln is a racist is as bad as someone trying to start a communist government in America. His services to the US prove his isn't racist, he freed the slaves by winning the war against the south. I mean he must have done something right he has several monuments and his face is on Mount Rushmore. Need i say more?
by Im Alec has abandoned this account on March 4th, 2010
By modern standards, he was. He did not believe in slavery, but equally he did not believe that black people were the equals of white people. But he was a product of his time. He took a huge stride in the direction of equality, even if he didn't go all the way (or what we believe today to be all the way). Praise him for what he did achieve, not for what he didn't, and praise his successors for building on his legacy.
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You're reading Many people believe Lincoln was a racist (since he supported the idea of creating for them a colony in West Africa) Do you believe he was?
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Comments
great answer! thanks for taking the time.
by E. on March 5th, 2010