As I conducted several types of research, I discovered that the 1st black President was John Hanson, a black moor 1781-1782, chosen unanimously by Congress which includes George Washington, when the country was created by the Articles of Confederation. Hanson established the Great Seal of the United States, which all Presidents have since been required to use on all official documents. President Hanson also established the first Treasury Department, the first Secretary of War, and the first Foreign Affairs Department. George Washington was the first President of the United States under the Constitution which the U.S. follows today. When it comes to history, the black history it’s lost as if black citizens never contributed anything in America.
However, a man in America who I admire and I would claim the U.S. 1st black President who had a meaningful vision that impacted the United States is Abraham Lincoln.; he made sure that America never forgets his legacy the “Emancipation Proclamation” he believed that “Slavery was an unqualified evil to the negro, the white man, and the State”. He personally hated slavery and there were compromises as with any document created for change from any Presidents mainly due to the evilness from the citizens who supported slavery and was supported by the Constitution. He took a risk while slavery was popular and the driver of economic power in the U.S. But he was driven by his belief that “those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves.” As a Republican he had made a move against slavery “the darkest time in America” in 1861, a Civil War started.
In his own personal life, Lincoln’s life was similar to a black man with no evidence of white privileges. As blacks during this time lived with improvised and despair, Lincoln inherited many of those trials, failed business, family abandonment, bankruptcy, deaths and lost elections. As many slaves were forced to wear their spiritual belief as a badge of honor against the evils of slavery and oppression. He too believed, “If you are courageous and refused to give up on yourself”, you will succeed. He believed in the spiritual being that guided him “God”. Reminds me of Moses “Harriet Tubman” who believed she was guided by God to lead slaves to the Underground Railroad. Lincoln, a visionary went on to become the 16th President of the United States despite suffering from a lifelong mental illness.
What most Americans seek in a leader is someone who is handsome, athletic and a charismatic person. Former President Clinton, many compared him to be the 1st black President while I found this comparison to a black man offensive because his characteristics were deceptive and dishonest; smoking weed, had multiple affairs, allegedly abandoned a black child, and shady deals such as profited off mass incarceration and Haiti funds. A black man traits always stigmatized to be negative and dark. However, Lincoln was genuine; he was tall, thin, and compassionate, inquired black features, empathetic and great leadership characteristics. Lincoln served from 1861 – 1865 and he passed and was black. His mother was from an Ethiopian Tribe and his father was an African American. It was told that his father was Thomas Lincoln, a man to cover the truth, but he was sterile from childhood mumps and was later castrated, making it impossible for him to have been his father. Lincoln’s nickname “Abraham Africanus the First.”
Even though Lincoln was a free person, his life was similar to a slave man. During slavery, mental illness was rapid due to torture, rapes, oppression, lynching, poverty and much more. There were three elements of Lincoln's mental illness history is the deep, pervasive sadness of his mother who died, the strange spells of his father, and the striking presence of mental illness in the family of his uncle and cousins suggest the likelihood of a biological predisposition toward depression. Lincoln family lived in poverty lost their farm and squatted on another farm. Then his father didn’t support his education, took all Abe’s work earnings, very abusive and hit Lincoln on several occasions. He believed that education was a waste; however Lincoln believed education can be a pathway to his vision. Lincoln vision encourages him to decide to leave home in his early twenties.
In comparison to Lincoln, is a black man named Frederick Douglass, a black self-made man who was born a slave and escaped slavery to follow his dream. His slave master was one the toughest in the South and tried to “mentally break” Douglass through his beatings and abuse, the slave master took all Douglass earnings except six cents out of six dollars. That didn’t stop Douglas from his inner power to learn how to read through the mistress of the house. Even though slavery didn’t allow blacks to read, he believed that education was his secret to his success. He also had no faith with the Declaration of Independence and called July 4th a "national sin of slavery", he fought as an abolitionist against the evils of slavery. He wrote many books as he was a self-made man didn’t have a standard education at a University but taught his way how to write bestsellers books.
In comparison to Lincoln, is a black man named Frederick Douglass, a black self-made man who was born a slave and escaped slavery to follow his dream. His slave master was one the toughest in the South and tried to “mentally break” Douglass through his beatings and abuse, the slave master took all Douglass earnings except six cents out of six dollars. That didn’t stop Douglas from his inner power to learn how to read through the mistress of the house. Even though slavery didn’t allow blacks to read, he believed that education was his secret to his success. He also had no faith with the Declaration of Independence and called July 4th a "national sin of slavery", he fought as an abolitionist against the evils of slavery. He wrote many books as he was a self-made man didn’t have a standard education at a University but taught his way how to write bestsellers books.
Lincoln was also a self-taught/ self-made man and passed the law bar exam without going to college to became a lawyer in Illinois. After less than a year in New Salem, Lincoln declared himself as a candidate for the Illinois General Assembly; he was twenty-three years old. He lost the race but got nearly every vote in his precinct, which, said another candidate, was "mainly due to his personal popularity." When he volunteered for a state militia campaign against a band of Native Americans under Chief Black Hawk, a part of the bloody Black Hawk War, his company elected Lincoln captain.
Lincoln went into business at the age of 31, and then he went bankrupt. At the age 32, he contested for legislative office in America and was defeated. He went back into business at age 34, his business failed again.
At the age of 35, his wife died. At the age of 36, he suffered a nervous breakdown. In 1835, Lincoln’s depression was pushed out into the open. After several weeks of worrisome behavior talking about suicide, wandering alone in the woods with his gun an older couple in the area took him into their home. When he recovered two years later he went back into politics and suffered another defeat at the age of 38. He never gave up!
In January 1841, a young Abraham Lincoln suffered his second breakdown. He collapsed and was treated by a doctor who may have done him more harm than good.
At the age of 43, he contested for a seat in the Congress and was still defeated. Yet, he never gave up on his vision, at the age of 46; he contested again for a sit in the Congress for the second time and still was defeated.
At the age of 55, he sought a seat in the house of senate and was yet defeated again. At the age of 58, he made an attempt at the office of the vice president of America. Everybody gave up on him but he still refused to give up on himself and refused to be refused.
At the age of 60, he contested for the office of the president of the United States of America and worn and emerged the 16th president of America, ABRAHAM LINCON. Out of 11 attempts, he failed 10 times and succeeded once as “President of the United States of America”.
During slavery and the growth in economic power, Abraham Lincoln issued the “Emancipation Proclamation” that declared forever free those slaves within the Confederacy in 1863. You can imagine could believe that he was a true black man freeing slaves conquering over humanity thoughts and decisions.
On a “Good Friday” April 14, 1865, Lincoln was assassinated at Ford's Theatre in Washington by John Wilkes Booth, an actor, who somehow thought he was helping the South. (Good Friday was connected and symbolizes Lincoln’s own spiritual beliefs that were the day Jesus was crucified, died on the cross and buried in a tomb).
He was murdered but Lincoln’s life was not in vain however predestined and for a purpose! Even though there were many trials, tribulations, and mental illness he pressed forward with his vision. Lincoln was never forgotten however remembered and among one of the most famous Presidents of the U.S. today!
References
As black people, we are often praised for our strength. We’re tough. After all, we’re the race that endured 400 years of slavery, the Civil Rights movement, and still, deal with modern-day racism disguised as something else. Still, statistically blacks see substantially lower rates in jobs and higher rates of poverty than most other races, but still, we’re told to just hold on and be strong.
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Services, blacks are 20 percent more likely to report having serious psychological distress than whites. Still, most of us don’t seek help. We can do it. We can get through it. We’re fighters. We’ll pray on it. These are only some of the ways we try to convince ourselves. And for a while, it may work, but just like any issue that goes unresolved, things usually get worse.
While some consider suicide an act least associated with our community, I disagree. We also kill ourselves, and many times, not just in the literal sense. High obesity rates, several physical illnesses, increasing poverty and high incarceration rates are telling of the times. One in every three black males is expected to go to jail at least once in his life, and if that’s not enough, studies show that black teenagers are twice as likely as whites to get pregnant at a young age. While we don’t necessarily end our lives physically, some stressed decisions slowly kill our dreams, our hopes, and our happiness.
So what’s the first step? As cliché, as it sounds, being honest with yourself, is most important. Admit that you’re going through a tough time, that you have issues stemming from your past, or that you’re tired of having to be so strong. Then make up in your mind that you will be committed to living a better life than your ancestors because you have more resources than they did to speak out, speak up and seek help.
We don’t have to hurt alone or even be ashamed of our pain. As strong as we are taught to be, even the strongest people can crack; and when we do, we should seek help. Whether it’s ‘daddy issues’, a poverty-stricken childhood, sexual abuse that was swept under the rug, or low self-esteem, black people need help too, and there’s no shame in us seeking out help professionally for our issues.
https://fookembug.wordpress.com/2008/12/01/the-seven-black-presidents-before-barack-obama/
