Forrest said there was no reason black people could not be doctors, store clerks, bankers, or in any other jobs 'equal' to whites. He said they were skilled artisans and needed to be employed in those skills so that successive 'black' generations would not be dependent on a welfare society. (Forrest was a man of vision).
To prove his point, when he organized the Memphis & Selma Railroad, Forrest took it upon himself to hire blacks as architects, construction engineers, foremen, train engineers, conductors, and many other high level jobs, not just laborer positions. (The first affirmative action).
The Independent Order of Pole Bearers Association (a forerunner of the NAACP), invited General Forrest, the first white man ever invited, to speak at their convention on July 5, 1875. During his speech, too much applause, Bedford said: "I came here with the jeers of some white people, who think that I am doing wrong. I believe I can exert some influence, and do much to assist the people in strengthening fraternal relations, and shall do all in my power to elevate every man - to depress none. (Applause.) I want to elevate you to take positions in law offices, in stores, on farms, and wherever you are capable of going." Forrest went on to say, "I came to meet you as friends, and welcome you to the white people. I want you to come nearer to us. When I can serve you I will do so. We have but one flag, one country; let us stand together. We may differ in color, but not in sentiment. Many things have been said about me which are wrong, and which white and black persons here, who stood by me through the war, can contradict. Go to work, be industrious, live honestly and act truly, and when you are oppressed I'll come to your relief."
Whereupon N. B. Forrest thanked Miss Lewis for the bouquet of flowers and then gave her a kiss on the cheek. Such a kiss was unheard of in the society of those days, in 1875, but it showed a token of respect and friendship between the general and the black community and did much to promote racial harmony among the citizens of Memphis.
Author Jack Hurst wrote: (Forrest) was a man possessed of physical valor perhaps unprecedented among his countrymen, as well as, ironically, a man whose social attitudes may well have changed farther in the direction of racial enlightenment over the span of his lifetime than those of most American historical figures.
Now, let's compare two "great" men of those days. The first of our comparisons wrote: (quote):
"I will say, then, that I am not, nor ever have been, in favor of bringing about in any way the social and political equality of the white and black races -- that I am not, nor ever have been, in favor of making voters or jurors of Negroes, nor of qualifying them to hold office, nor to intermarry with white people; and I will say in addition to this that there is a physical difference between the white and black races from living together on terms of social and political equality. And inasmuch as they cannot so live, while they do remain together there must be the position of superior and inferior, and I as much as any other man, am in favor of having the superior position assigned to the white race." (End of quote).
Now for the second quote:
"I came here with the jeers of some white people, who think that I am doing wrong. I believe I can exert some influence, and do much to assist the people in strengthening fraternal relations, and shall do all in my power to elevate every man - to depress none. (Applause.) I want to elevate you to take positions in law offices, in stores, on farms, and wherever you are capable of going. I have not said anything about politics today. I don't propose to say anything about politics. You have a right to elect whom you please; vote for the man you think best, and I think, when that is done, you and I are freemen. Do as you consider right and honest in electing men for
office. I did not come here to make you a long speech, although invited to do so by you. I am not much of a speaker, and my business prevented me from preparing myself. I came to meet you as friends, and welcome you to the white people. I want you to come nearer to us. When I can serve you I will do so. We have but one flag, one country; let us stand together. We may differ in color, but not in sentiment. Many things have been said about me which are wrong, and which white and black persons here, who stood by me through the war, can contradict Go to work, be industrious, live honestly and act truly, and when you are oppressed I'll come to your relief." (End of quote).
As noted in a memo from Mr. John Pankopw: "It seems quite obvious to me that the first quote brands the speaker as a racist, unworthy of being memorialized. Wouldn't you agree? The quote of the second speaker indicates that he sought to "strengthen fraternal relations" between whites and black, to "elevate every man and depress none." He pledged to defend his audience (composed of blacks) from oppression. His remark "we may differ in color, but not in sentiment," shows a remarkable idea of racial brotherhood given the era when the speech was made."
The first quote was made by, Abraham Lincoln, the second by Nathan Bedford Forrest.
It's obvious that General Forrest did more for racial equality in his time than any other person of that era.
When General Nathan Bedford Forrest died in 1877 it is noteworthy that his funeral in Memphis was attended not only by a throng of thousands of whites but by hundreds of blacks as well. The funeral procession was over two miles long and was attended by over 10,000 area residents, including 3000 black citizens paying their respects.
It is clearly obvious that history has done a chopping-job on one of the greatest Sons of the South. He is portrayed (if at all) as a slave trader, butcher, and enemy of the black race, when in fact, just the opposite is true. If monuments are only to be erected to those of perfect moral character, then to whom do we build? Lincoln and Franklin D. Roosevelt had racist attitudes, Kennedy and MLK were allegedly immoral adulterers. What of their monuments? Washington was a slave owner, and coveted his neighbor’s wife, Jefferson allegedly had a child with his (slave). What of Bill Clinton, how big will his monument be?
Nathan Bedford Forrest was a product of his time, and if history should give him the true credit and honor that is due him, he would be listed among our greatest American citizens. War hero, civil servant, industrialist, visionary, and above all else - a true pioneer in racial equality and justice.
There are so many social problems today we do not need to waste our time unrealistically judging people of the past by our modern standards, nor do we need to destroy cherished historical emblems based on misconceived perceptions. The irony of the entire matter is the fact that if all the hate groups, such as the NAACP, JDL, and White Supremacist groups knew true history, perhaps their hatred would not be so bitter and we could all focus on a better future for our children.
Thousands of Southern Patriots fought and died under that banner we identify as the Confederate Battle Flag. More men died for that blood stained banner than all the men who died in WWI, WWII, Korea and Vietnam combined. And, you know what? Many of them were Black Southern Patriots, defending a free nation they firmly believed would one day offer them freedom and bring them into the bosom of the greatest Christian society every built.
Bedford Forrest believed the key to racial harmony was not only equality in work, in opportunity, but also in education. Education on both sides of the color line. His remark in Memphis to the large gathering of free black citizens ended with the words, "and when you are oppressed I'll come to your relief." And he did, many times over.
The true memory of Nathan Bedford Forrest is being oppressed today by 'false twisted and assumed' history. Honest Americans, both black and white, should come to his relief and demand to know from our venerable historians - the real facts
http://www.southernheritage411.com/t...ory.php?th=039