But First, Yes, Of Course, We Know

Of course President Lincoln was far more advanced in his time than many of his white contemporaries. Juneteenth marks the day in 1865 that Gordon Granger, a general in the Union Army, led thousands of Union troops into Galveston, Texas, to enforce Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation ordering the end of slavery.

Context is important. Lincoln took a bold and courageous stand for his time.

But it’s also important to understand our country’s real history, and not just the most cheerful version of it. So here are some ugly truths about Lincoln, that go along with the laudable ones.