Abraham Lincoln: The First Principle

Last week, Ed Foster and I watched a Zoom session from President Lincoln’s Cottage in Washington, DC of an interview with Jonathan W. White, the author of A House Built by Slaves: African American Visitors to the Lincoln White House. During the hour and a half presentation, we learned that President Lincoln changed his mind over the years about African Americans, but that he always hated slavery and that he always treated African Americans with respect.

It’s hard for us to understand the culture of slavery today. In the 1850’s, even abolitionists didn’t believe that African Americans were equal to white people; they just considered slavery bad. If a white person met a black person, he would be ignored. When President Lincoln tipped his hat to a black person, this gesture was thought unimaginable.

Frederick Douglas visited the White House three times to meet with President Lincoln. His third visit was immediately after January 1, 1863, the effective date of the Emancipation Proclamation. While White House staff tried to usher Douglas out of the house, he called out for Lincoln. President Lincoln walked in and greeted Douglas warmly, accompanying him in. Later, Douglas told his friends that he was greeted as any other gentleman. President Lincoln truly believed in the worth and dignity of every person.

Submitted by Teresa Wilmot