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 in as much 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. I say upon this occasion I do not perceive that because the white man is to have the superior position the negro should be denied everything. I do not understand that because I do not want a negro woman for a slave I must necessarily want her for a wife. My understanding is that I can just let her alone.
Abraham Lincoln during the Lincoln-Douglas Debates in 1858
Stirring Up Trouble by DrVLoLil 
hmm – interesting!
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I find this quote to be unsurprising, sadly. I showed my younger brother this because I am currently in the process of “Woke-ifying” him (Casually pointing out the subtle misrepresentation — or lack of altogether– of Black people in the history textbooks he has been assigned). I spent 13 years of my life being taught fallacies like “Abraham Lincoln was your ally because of the Emancipation Proclamation,” and I’ve spent the last 2 years trying to uncover the racism and self-hatred that has been ingrained in me. When we covered slavery/civil rights in middle and high school, we talked about everything except slavery itself. We talked about how Abraham Lincoln and the Abolitionists fought to end slavery (not because they actually cared, but because it was inconvenient for them); about how “nice” they were to black people (for the simple fact that they weren’t murdering and abusing them — despite the fact that they didn’t even consider them people). I was taught that I should idolize American “heroes” Like Lincoln and George Washington, and Christopher Columbus, when they would have gladly thrown me aside; when they dehumanized and destroyed my people; when their descendants, instead of righting their wrongs, wiped their hands clean and painted them in valor. I find it incredibly ironic that Lincoln is appraised for “freeing” a race of people he so despised.
P.S. I read the “White Saviour complex” and “sagging pants” posts before deciding to comment on this one, so a bit of it is carryover frustration, haha.
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Dena, Thank you for your comment and your consciousness. When I initially posted the quote, one of my friends immediately phone me to ask, “Did you just quote Abraham Lincoln?” Funny thing is, she didn’t even read it. She was just aware of some of his messages. So thank you for your reaction.
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