Dan Eberle,
Ashlee Wolfe, Jay Shimko
Group 5: Chapter
Six, Loewen, Lies, “John Brown and Abraham Lincoln.”
1)
Loewen argues that although Nat Turner and John Brown both killed whites
“in cold blood” to free blacks, “Nat Turner has become something of a
hero,” while John Brown is seen as a “religious fanatic” (178).
How are the two men differentiated within the twelve texts that
Loewen studied?
Explain why Loewen thinks this difference is important—what conclusion does he
draw from it? How does this relate to Pratt’s idea of the “contact zone”?
2)
Based on what you read, would you consider John Brown a hero or would you
consider him guilty
of the crimes he committed/did he deserve to be put to
death, and why/why
not?
3)
“Antiracism led to ‘a new birth of freedom’ after the Civil War,
and not
only for African
Americans.” (198). How does
Loewen define “antiracism” (172)? According
to Loewen’s text, what effect did the birth of antiracism have on the world?
How is Loewen’s idea of antiracism related to the way dances changed and
developed according to Dr. Pinheiro’s presentation?
4)
If you had to list a “hero” or two from American history, who would
you choose? Loewen argues that few
college students choose Lincoln, although throughout our school we are taught
that Abraham Lincoln was a "really great" guy, but when asked
"why" (198), no one has any supporting details. Why does Loewen think
this occurs? Do textbooks not
include the necessary details or are teachers simply not including it in their
curriculum? Why?
5)
In the text, Loewen states that Abraham Lincoln and John Brown were both
viewed as "legitimate heros,” for
African Americans and people around the world (198). Loewen also states that
both men were put to death for the same reason: “arming black people for their
own liberation” (198). How do you
tell the difference between fighting for freedom and terrorism, as many people
viewed John Brown’s work, especially? Is
there a real difference, or does it depend on where you stand?
Explain.