Atlantic Monthly magazine just released an issue honoring the “100 Most Influential Americans of All Time”. Not surprisingly, Abraham Lincoln made the cover and was noted as being the number one most influential American of all time. What would Harriet Tubman have to say about this?
Ms. Tubman openly stated that she and most blacks (colored/African-American) didn’t care too much for or even trust President Lincoln. She would often visit Mrs. Lincoln but didn’t want to see or talk with President Lincoln. (” I used to go see Mrs. Lincoln but I never wanted to see him.” Harriet Tubman)
It is also clear in historical records that Ms. Tubman never credited Lincoln for freeing the slaves, instead she stated that John Brown was the emancipator of her people.
Thus, I conclude that Ms. Tubman might oppose the selection of President Lincoln as the most influential American of all time.
One Comment
Well, its true she never met Lincoln - but in an interview in 1896 she regretted it: “No, I’m sorry now, but I didn’t like Lincoln in den days. I us’d go see Missus Lincoln but I never wanted to see him. You see, we colored people didn’t understand den he was our frien’. All we knew was dat de first colored troops sent South from Massachusetts only got seven dollars a month, while de white regiments got fivteen. We didn’t like dat. But now I know all ’bout it, an’ I’m very sorry I didn’t go to see Massa Lincoln.”
Copied from: Holt, Rosa Belle. “A Heroine in Ebony.” Chautauquan. July 1896, vol 23:4.
friendly regards, franz
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