Zinn Chapter 9

So this reading was a long one however at points it certainly perked my interests. The first thing that really stuck out to me also happened to be what I believe is his thesis to be. “The ending of slavery lead to reconstruction of national policies and economics, it was not a radical reconstruction, but a safe one – in fact a profitable one.” Throughout his argument Zinn gives examples about how not just the South but also the North exploited blacks despite fighting for their freedom. Their freedom was given to them but the true issue of racism, the idea that whites are better than blacks, still remained. Zinn gives examples such as the Northern extortion of the black labor force, allowing the government to institute “separate but equal” public locations, and rising of radical lynching were proof that things had not truly changed. He presented great quotes from Francis Ellen Watkins Harper and the Black Female Student who points were presented to officials with a great truth behind them but they fell on deaf ears. Another example of black exploitation was from none other than Abraham Lincoln himself. Of course I grew up with a great admiration for President Lincoln and was surprised to learn of his “flip-flopping”, if you will, on the issues of not only his position on slavery, but his very respect for them as humans. I will however maintain a positive outlook on our president because he had to perform these duties in a time where the idea of freeing blacks, and seeing them as equals, was a completely foreign idea which he would be incapable of performing without some disagreeable ideas. Through this I feel that Zinn takes a stance on Lincoln I’m not sure I completely understand. Most of his argument is negative towards our former President but I would suppose this is because we already know the positives so Zinn presents the negatives. This, in my mind however, says that Lincoln should be looked at unfavorably. Like many Presidents in difficult situations he had a great man difficult choices and positions to take and he preformed as best he could. I’ll admit he probably made mistakes, the very ones Zinn presents, but that shouldn’t lessen the accomplishments or praise Lincoln deserves.

That was a long article… but a good one…