The author argued that president lincoln was a racist whose political mentor was. His bestknown works include before the mayflower 1962 and forced into glory 2000, a book about u. An avid black reader in the age of white supremacy, he had the good fortune of finding a white used book seller who allowed him to read when the store was closed. A history of black america, and ebony pictorial history of black america volume i. It attacks abraham lincoln and claims that his reputation as the great emancipator is undeserved. Abraham lincolns white dream, published by johnson publishing. The book is entitled forced into glory abraham lincolns white dream and its author, lerone bennett, jr. Bennett has worked hard at making white of black and black of white. Before the mayflower educated me about the need to research our true history.
Abraham lincolns white dream, which, for some, shattered centuriesold myths about the 16th presidents involvement in the freedom of slaves. He is a faith, he is a church, he is a religion, and he has his own priests and acolytes, most of whom have a vested interest in him and who are passionately opposed to anybody telling the truth about him. Abraham lincolns white dream is a book by the african american scholar and historian, lerone bennett, jr. It criticizes united states president abraham lincoln and claims that his reputation as the great emancipator during the american civil war is undeserved. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Beginning with the argument that the emancipation proclamation did not actually free african american slaves, this dissenting view of lincoln s greatness surveys the presidents policies, speeches, and private utterances and concludes that he had little real interest in abolition. Abraham lincoln in the writings of lerone bennett jr. Pointing to lincolns support for the fugitive slave laws, his friendship with slaveowning beginning with the. Ebony magazine and lerone bennett jr a new book on. Well skilled in cunning wiles, he could make white of black and black of white. Lerone bennett, historian and former executive editor of. October 17, 1928 february 14, 2018 was an africanamerican scholar, author and social historian, known for his analysis of race relations in the united states. May 01, 2018 t he historian and journalist lerone bennett jr.
This is certainly true in the case of abraham lincoln. He was known for his analysis of race relations in the united states. From the time lincoln settled in new salem in 1831, until he left illinois in 1861 for the white house, slaves and quasislaves were held, whipped, hunted, litigated and terrorized in that state. The human side of reconstruction, a good book his general history of african americans, and a bad book. Everything you think you know about lincoln and race is. Your subtitle on the book is abraham lincolns white dream. Bennett expanded his ideas into a 652page book, forced into glory. His written work deftly explored the history of race relations in the united states as well as the current environment in which african americans strive for equality. Bennett would go on to pen at least 10 books, including the 2000 book titled forced into glory. The unexpurgated lincoln from a to z by lerone bennett jr. The human side of reconstruction, a good book his general history of african americans, and a bad book on lincoln. Author ed steers, who has written about lincoln topics for many years, examines lerone bennetts controversial new book. A wellresearched and accessible study situated within the growing. Looking for books by lerone bennett jr see all books authored by lerone bennett jr.
By chinta strausberg, chicago crusader funeral services for lerone bennett, jr. Abraham lincolns white dream by lerone bennett, jr. Abraham lincoln s white dream 2000 is a book by lerone bennett jr. It criticizes united states president abraham lincoln and claims that his reputation as the great emancipator during the american civil war is undeserved in his introduction, bennett wrote. Beginning with the argument that the emancipation proclamation did not actually free african american slaves, this dissenting view of lincolns greatness surveys the presidents policies, speeches, and private utterances and concludes that he had little real interest in abolition. I had naively assumed that when a writer as well known and respected as lerone bennett jr.
James wests book is the first major examination of ebony as a forum for black historical discourse and the magazines longtime executive editor lerone bennett jr. A history of black america, 16191962 examined the contributions and legacy of africanamericans predating the transatlantic slave trade died this week at age 89. Executive editor of ebony and author of several books on africanamerican history, bennett first attracted. Born in clarksdale, mississippi, he and his family moved to jackson when he was young. I thought that book captured the essence of what i was trying to say in the sense that lincoln, from my standpoint, was driven, was forced into a glory that he resisted, i think, every step of the way. Forced into glory abraham lincolns white dream book. Was abraham lincoln a racist, president abraham lincoln and racism view, the racist abraham lincoln, lincolns view of the black race african americans slavery slaves blacks, emancipation proclamation. Abraham lincolns white dream 2000 is a book by lerone bennett jr. His book about lincoln changed my life, said comedian sinbad.
Everything you think you know about lincoln and race is wrong. Others too expressed their sadness and profound gratitude for bennett. Abraham lincolns white dream 9780874850857 by bennett jr. Abraham lincolns white dream by bennett, lerone isbn. I am personally saddened by the death of lerone bennett jr. President abraham lincoln born and raised in mississippi, bennett graduated from morehouse college. Lerone bennett jr was the ebony magazine journalist and historian behind a provocative study that accused abraham lincoln of being a white supremacist. The swiss scholar eduard fueter once observed that every historian must decide whether he wishes to write from the perspective of his own time, or from the perspective of those whom he is studying. Abraham lincoln s white dream 9780874850857 by bennett jr. If lincoln s selfconfessed reactionary critics accused him of being a dictator, a war criminal, and the president responsible for centralizing power in the federal government, a much different and unmistakably negative assessment came from lerone bennett jr. Abraham lincolns white dream johnson publishing co. Historian lerone bennett served as the executive editor of ebony for almost forty years.