April 14, 2025 Editor, The News-Gazette: In response to Kamron Spivey’s April 9 letter to the editor, Lee’s own words and actions show that it is a mistake to treat him as an exemplary model for those seeking racial reconciliation. Specifically, Lee: - believed that the master/slave relationship “was controlled by humane laws and influenced by Christianity and an enlightened public sentiment, as the best that can exist between the white and black races while intermingled as at present in this country.”
- testified before Congress that Black Americans “cannot vote intelligently” and their presence had injured and impaired the state of Virginia.
- agreed with Southern leaders who were “opposed to any system of laws which will place the political power of the country in the hands of the negro race.”
- observed that “wherever you find the negro, everything is going down around him, and wherever you find the white man, you see everything around him improving.”
- suggested to his son that their family’s “material, social, and political interests are naturally with the whites.”
This is just a portion of the evidence that shows while Lee sought political unity with the federal government as well as economic restoration for Southern states, he did little to pursue racial reconciliation. Lee’s words and actions show that he was a prejudiced man who advocated for the discrimination and segregation of Black Americans. Accordingly, it is a mistake to suggest that Robert E. Lee is a model to live by in our current times. Instead, we can and should choose many other men and women whose principles regarding race are known to be far better examples. DENNY GARVIS Lexington
