Summary Reexamining the Racial Record of Abraham Lincoln. cupola.gettysburg.edu
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Lerone Bennett Jr.'s book "Forced Into Glory" challenges the conventional view of Abraham Lincoln as a racial progressive and argues that he was a racist who did not genuinely emancipate slaves, sparking controversy and important discussions about Lincoln's racial record and the African-American experience.
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Key Points
- Lerone Bennett Jr. argues in his book "Forced Into Glory" that the study of Abraham Lincoln is the study of America itself and the exclusion of African American perspectives is a loss.
- Bennett criticizes Lincoln studies organizations for not giving enough attention to the racial record of Lincoln.
- Bennett accuses Lincoln of residual racism and claims that he did not do enough to uproot slavery.
- The book has received mixed reviews, with some praising Bennett's scholarship and others calling it misguided and racist.
- Despite controversy, Bennett's book has sparked important discussions about Lincoln's racial record and the African-American experience.
- A new book by Lerone Bennett Jr. titled "Reexamining the Racial Record of Abraham Lincoln" has received little attention from mainstream press.
- The book argues that Lincoln was a crude bigot who told demeaning jokes, used racial slurs, and supported efforts to send African Americans back to Africa.
- The controversy surrounding the book led to a group of leading Lincoln scholars being asked for their opinions on it by the Journal of Blacks in Higher Education.
Summary
333 word summary
The text excerpt discusses the racial record of Abraham Lincoln and the criticisms made by the author, Lerone Bennett Jr., in his book "Forced Into Glory." Bennett argues that the study of Lincoln is the study of America itself and that the exclusion of perspectives from African Americans is a loss. He also criticizes the lack of attention given to this issue by Lincoln studies organizations. Bennett believes that the study of Lincoln can be a passage to freedom and highlights the importance of understanding the perspectives of the oppressed. He expresses concern about Bennett's book, particularly his excesses and disregard for historical facts. Bennett accuses Lincoln of residual racism and argues that he did not do enough to uproot slavery. He also criticizes Lincoln's stance on black deportation and colonization. The excerpt concludes with a summary of Bennett's case against Lincoln, including his views on the Emancipation Proclamation and Lincoln's alleged embrace of white superiority. Lerone Bennett Jr., executive editor of Ebony magazine, wrote a book called "Forced Into Glory: Abraham Lincoln's White Dream" which argues that Lincoln was a racist and that his emancipation of slaves was not genuine. The book has received mixed reviews, with some critics praising Bennett's scholarship and others calling it misguided and racist. The mainstream media has largely ignored the book, leading to speculation about the reasons behind the silence. Despite the controversy, Bennett's book has sparked important discussions about Lincoln's racial record and the African-American experience. A new book by Ebony editor Lerone Bennett Jr. titled "Reexamining the Racial Record of Abraham Lincoln" has received little attention from mainstream press. The book argues that Lincoln was a crude bigot who told demeaning jokes, used racial slurs, and supported efforts to send African Americans back to Africa. Despite this, Lincoln has been universally honored in black America since his death in 1865. The book has sparked controversy and Journal of Blacks in Higher Education asked a group of leading Lincoln scholars for their opinions on it.