The Paradoxical Relationship between Frederick Douglass & Abraham Lincoln
James Oakes is a Professor of Humanities and History at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York. He has written extensively on the history of slavery in the Old South and in this discussion he reminds the audience of how much Lincoln and Douglass had in common.
Ron Keller earned an MA in History from Eastern Illinois University and teaches American Political History at Lincoln College in Lincoln, Illinois. He has presented numerous programs as Director and Curator of the Lincoln College Museum, and he has also organized and presented an annual summer seminar for Illinois teachers on the topic of “Abraham Lincoln and Illinois in a Nation of Slavery.” He will discuss how the lens of popular culture shapes public perceptions However, his presentation is entitled “Lincoln and the Legacy of Race and Slavery”. This presentation goes beyond just a discussion of Lincoln and Douglass. Rather, it sets a framework for Lincoln’s views on race and slavery pre-presidency, during his presidency, and some on the legacy of Lincoln after the fact, including his efforts on voluntary colonization. of history. This program is endorsed by the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission and will explore the life, times and leadership of the man who guided America through one of the most tumultuous periods of its history.