Democracy Quote by Eric Foner
““Republicans, white and black, heaped scorn upon “respectables” who did not participate directly in the violence but “could not stop their sons from murdering their inoffensive neighbors in broad daylight.” Yet their complicity went beyond silence in the face of unspeakable crimes. Through their constant vilification of blacks, carpetbaggers, scalawags, and Reconstruction, the “old political leaders” fostered a climate that condoned violence as a legitimate weapon in the struggle for Redemption.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Reconstruction: America's Unfinished Revolution, 1863‑1877 by Eric Foner, 2014
The passage describes how post‑Civil War Southern leaders used racist rhetoric and political labeling to justify and perpetuate violence against Black citizens, framing it as necessary for “Redemption.”
In simple terms: Southern leaders used hate speech to legitimize violence against Black people after the Civil War.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and challenge rhetoric that normalizes oppression.
Themes
racism
political manipulation
violence
historical memory
Mood
critical
reflective
Type
historical
political
When to use this quote
- political speeches
- media commentary
- educational curricula
- community activism
Key Concepts
white supremacy
reconstruction era politics
social control
Questions to Reflect On
- How did these narratives shape public policy?
- What can modern societies learn about resisting dehumanizing rhetoric?
A Different Perspective
The analysis may overlook the agency of Black resistance and the complexity of individual motives.
![“After the Reagan years, there were only three people of color in the Republican Party. Their slogan was 'Republicans - the Other White Meat.' George [H.] Bush tried to dispel the 'whites only' image of his party, often referring to his Mexican-American grandkids as 'the little brown ones over…” quote by Kate Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/7eb/kate-clinton-16348_brown_after-the-reagan-years-there-were-only-t_733664.jpg)
![“It was not because they [Harris and Klebold] were deviants, but rather because they were overconformists to a particular normative construction of masculinity, a construction that defines violence as a legitimate response to a perceived humiliation.” quote by Michael Kimmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/aa8/michael-kimmel-24245_violence_it-was-not-because-they-harris-and-klebo_2309473.jpg)
![“I don't [even] know the number of books on Abraham Lincoln. Ten thousand, twelve thousand? I have seen various numbers. It seems like every generation is always trying to come to terms with Lincoln.” quote by Eric Foner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/e00/eric-foner-20891_abraham_i-don-t-even-know-the-number-of-books-on_316134.jpg)
![“Vote for Donald Trump. You're going to see something and you'll be so happy, you'll be so thrilled. This [presidential] election is about every man, woman and child in our country who deserves to live in safety, prosperity and peace, so true.” quote by Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/18e/donald-trump-18_children_vote-for-donald-trump-you-re-going-to-se_1553.jpg)
