General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: 158 years ago today, the largest mass execution in U.S. history took place, ordered by A. Lincoln [View all]Blue_true
(31,261 posts)We look back on it now with horror, but when it happened, likely 100% of free men and women were for the hangings and were likely upset that Lincoln refused to hang far more people in that instance. There were some places in America where lynching of a Black man or teen was a civic affair, crowds of people would gather to watch, and the people that did the murders faced punishment that was no more severe than if they had jaywalked on a quiet street.
Our national history is brutal at times, people like Trump and his supporters want to force history teachings to portray the version of America that never existed. We each have a choice, be depressed by every instance of brutality in our national history, or use those acts to harden us in our fight for equality and justice.