Some want D.C.’s Lincoln statue gone. Others point out: Freed Black Americans paid for it.

WJLA ^ | June 22, 2020 | Courtney Pomeroy and Sam Ford

[GJones2]

"Some want D.C.'s Lincoln statue gone. Others point out: Freed Black Americans paid for it."

[GJones2]

In the context of calls to take down the Freedmen's Memorial Monument to Abraham Lincoln in Washington (and its replica in Boston), I thought it would be interesting to see what the former slave and abolitionist Frederick Douglass said at its unveiling, just a decade after the Civil War. The statue has been denounced for showing Lincoln standing over a partially kneeling slave (story). The slave, though, isn't kneeling in submission to Lincoln, but rising up from his broken shackles after Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation -- image or image. The statue was paid for by former slaves themselves, and before the construction of the Lincoln Memorial it was the main site for his commemoration.

[Sacajaweau]

thanks for posting

[GJones2]

In his speech Douglass addressed his fellow former slaves as well as the white dignitaries present, including President Grant. His speech consists of a peculiarly interesting combination of what he considers blunt truth -- unusual when honoring the dead (to which he counters, "Truth is proper and beautiful at all times and in all places...") -- with declamatory praise:

"In his [Lincoln's] interests, in his associations, in his habits of thought, and in his prejudices...He was preeminently the white man's President..."

"You [whites] are the children of Abraham Lincoln. We are at best only his stepchildren...To you it especially belongs to sound his praises, to preserve and perpetuate his memory, to multiply his statues...But...we entreat you to despise not the humble offering we this day unveil to view..."

If "highly interesting object" is taken as faint praise rather than a reference to the extraordinary circumstances of its production -- being paid for by former slaves -- Douglass may not have been fond of the monument as a statue ("I warmly congratulate you upon the highly interesting object which has caused you to assemble in such numbers and spirit as you have today"). He does "congratulate" them on it, though, and clearly doesn't want people to "despise" it. Eleanor Holmes Norton, the D.C. representative, is introducing legislation to have it be taken down, and claims that "... in his keynote address at the unveiling of this statue, Frederick Douglass also expressed his displeasure with the statue." That's blatantly untrue.

[GJones2]

Not only would he not want it be taken down, but he cites it at the close of his speech as a credit to his race:

“Fellow-citizens, I end, as I began, with congratulations. We have done a good work for our race today. In doing honor to the memory of our friend and liberator, we have been doing highest honors to ourselves and those who come after us; we have been fastening ourselves to a name and fame imperishable and immortal...when the foul reproach of ingratitude is hurled at us...we may calmly point to the monument we have this day erected to the memory of Abraham Lincoln.”

Maybe not for much longer, Frederick. Some among your posterity are determined to take it down.

[real saxophonist]

You know what, just this morning I was thinking that pretty soon they’re going to tear down a statue of Frederick Douglass, because they have no idea who he was. It’s a statue, let’s tear it down!

[GJones2]

You’re welcome. Note what Douglass said. He made the case for its importance.

[GJones2]

>> “It’s a statue, let’s tear it down!” <<

:-)

Yep, we’re getting close to that.

[Texas Eagle]

I don’t understand the consternation. The guy is taking a knee. Isn’t that a good thing?

[DoodleDawg]

Maybe you should read the whole address?

[Texas Eagle]

What a metaphor (or whatever you call it). The slave in the "Emancipation" statue is on one knee but in the act of getting up.

Today, blacks are taking a knee as a show of how little they have risen.

The Bible say (somewhere) "As a man thinks in his heart, so is he."

As long as you see yourself as downtrodden, you will act downtrodden.

[GJones2]

Well said.

[GJones2]

>> “I don’t understand the consternation. The guy is taking a knee. Isn’t that a good thing?” <<

:-)

[Lazamataz]

You know what, just this morning I was thinking that pretty soon they’re going to tear down a statue of Frederick Douglass, because they have no idea who he was. It’s a statue, let’s tear it down!

It's all part of the new Cancel Culture.

[GJones2]

>> "Maybe you should read the whole address?" <<

I read every word of the address, and posted a link so others could read it too -- speech. Did you have anything in particular in mind?

[Outlaw76]

Do not accept the narrative that they are trying to tear down the statues of slavers and such...

They want to tear down any evidence that disagrees with their narrative. Tearing down statues of Lee and other Confederates is a cover for tearing down abolitionists, Union soldiers and presidents, Lincoln himself. all so that they can say they were not freed by the actions of white men. So that they can say, well, anything they want.

They want to own history so that they can model the future and no one, not even Lincoln, is going to stand in the way.

[caww]

Actually these are people who just want to destroy things.....all they need is someone to tell them what to destroy next. Blm and Antifa leaders gladly accept that leadership.

[caww]

Actually these are people who just want to destroy things.....all they need is someone to tell them what to destroy next. Blm and Antifa leaders gladly accept that leadership.

[DoodleDawg]

Did you have anything in particular in mind?

I don't know, maybe some of the fulsome and heart-felt praise that Douglass lavished on Lincoln in the next few paragraphs? I know your intent was to make it look as if Douglass was criticizing Lincoln, perhaps only faintly praising him at best but an honest reading of the entire address shows exactly the opposite. Douglass makes it clear; without Lincoln there would be no end to slavery.

[caww]

......”As long as you see yourself as downtrodden, you will act downtrodden”...

If they ever as a collective unit rise in their communities against the gangs and criminals as they have on the streets these past weeks, 95% of their issues would fall away......because the system already as various programs etc.

However far too many know that doing so means accountability so it's just easier to keep demanding handouts in one form or another rather than change their neighborhood and the mind-set that keeps them ‘in bondage’ to the left....who needs them oppressed and disenchanted with their life.

[GJones2]

>> “Did you have anything in particular in mind?”[GJones2] <<
>> “I don’t know, maybe some of the fulsome and heart-felt praise that Douglass lavished on Lincoln in the next few paragraphs? I know your intent was to make it look as if Douglass was criticizing Lincoln, perhaps only faintly praising him at best but an honest reading of the entire address shows exactly the opposite. Douglass makes it clear; without Lincoln there would be no end to slavery.” [DoodleDawg] <<

My intent was to defend the statue of Lincoln by showing that Douglass appreciated it and believed it was important. What I included about Lincoln himself was secondary to that purpose.

For a speech honoring someone, it did contain more negative things than would be expected, but I agree that Douglass greatly appreciated Lincoln, considered him a great man, and believed he was almost uniquely qualified to accomplish the things he did. I quoted the line at the end in which he suggested that, with the statue, he and his race were “...fastening ourselves to a name and fame imperishable and immortal”.