The demise of Abraham Lincoln by Helen Betts

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23-Jun-2020

The demise of Abraham Lincoln

Taken this evening at Lincoln Park (a block from our house), where a group of protesters are planning to pull down the statue of Abraham Lincoln, I believe because they don’t like the subservient Black figure at his feet. I counted at least 25 police cars and countless police bicycles on the scene, along with all the major news outlets and a lot of the neighborhood. I fear this will be on the news tonight, and not in a good way. I did, however, meet a photographer from The Washington Post, and it was interesting to talk to him.

The statue was paid for in its entirety by emancipated slaves...

Best to view in "Original" because other versions resized by Pbase are decidedly unsharp.

Closed, posted earlier:

Nikon Z 7 ,Nikkor Z 24-70 f2.8 S
1/200s f/5.6 at 38.0mm iso500 full exif

other sizes: small medium large original auto

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Zoltán Balogh		30-Jun-2020 16:03
Excellent documentary capture, Helen! However, I find pulling down statues really sad, stupid and annoying. Poor Abraham Lincoln...

janescottcumming		26-Jun-2020 14:04
A very interesting set of photos Helen. I'm glad you were there to document this. When we went to this park with you, Tim and Sahraa I took a photo of this statue. I have never posted it because I was not sure how I felt about it. I really didn't like seeing the slave kneeling before Lincoln. I thought there should have been a better way to depict the moment but I don't know what that would have been. I was very interested to read that the statue was paid for by emancipated slaves. There are no easy answers here. It must have been very interesting to talk with the photographer from the Washington Post. You guys stay safe!

Julie Oldfield		24-Jun-2020 23:38
I am very conflicted too. I can see why that statue would upset people. V

William Barletta		24-Jun-2020 16:05
The cancel culture will doom old "honest Abe." ~V~

bill friedlander		24-Jun-2020 14:21
The U.S. is going to end up being a Fatherless country.

Gill Kopy		24-Jun-2020 04:17
Interesting that there are very few blacks in the crowd ! Removal of statues isn't going to change anything - crowds quietly with their fists raise will !! V

Nirvan Hope		24-Jun-2020 04:09
And so it goes. I hope at least that history books will not disappear!

joseantonio		24-Jun-2020 03:27
very nice documentary shot.V.

David Buzzeo		24-Jun-2020 02:50
Thank you for sharing this image. It gives us all a lot to think about. Wish I had an answer. V

globalgadabout		24-Jun-2020 02:37
didn't honest Abe emancipate at least some of the slaves?....the man's heart was surely in the right place...well done to catch the statue while it still stands..

larose forest photos		24-Jun-2020 02:08
A document of our troubled times, this excellent shot.I am uneasy with revisionist history. V

Hank Vander Velde		24-Jun-2020 01:19
Excellent image Helen. I think the push to rewrite or diminish history is a bad thing for mankind. That was then and this is now. Are we any better now and should our mistakes and blemishes, including those of current leaders, be left out of the history books? Lincoln did a lot of great things, the fact that he may have participated in slavery (common in his time) shouldn't relegate him to the dustbin.

Don Mottershead		24-Jun-2020 00:58
I'm conflicted about this situation. Don't know what to think. Excellent photojournalism.