Theodore Roosevelt through the prism of race: Black, white, and shades of grey
Subject(s): Ahlwardt, Hermann, 1846-1914, Antisemitism, Bulloch, Irvine S., Bulloch, James Dunwody, 1823-1901, Burgess, John William, 1844-1931, Cox, Minnie M. Geddings, 1869-1933, Crum, William Demos, 1859-1912, Durbin, Winfield T. (Winfield Taylor), 1847-1928, Dyer, Thomas G., Fraser, James Earle, 1876-1953, Geronimo, 1829-1909, Hagedorn, Hermann, 1882-1964, Indians of North America, Jews, American--Attitudes, Lynch, John Roy, 1847-1939, Lynching, Mississippi--Indianola, Pollock, William, 1870-1899, Presidents--Relations with African Americans, Roosevelt, Martha Bulloch, 1835-1884, Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919, Shaler, Nathaniel Southgate, 1841-1906, Straus, Oscar S. (Oscar Solomon), 1850-1926, Tillman, Benjamin R. (Benjamin Ryan), 1847-1918, United States. Army. Infantry Regiment, 25th, Vardaman, James Kimble, 1861-1930, Washington, Booker T., 1856-1915
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John B. Ashbaugh examines Theodore Roosevelt’s complicated views on race and charts his history with various ethnic and racial groups, including Native Americans, African-Americans, and Jews. Ashbaugh highlights the influence of Roosevelt’s southern born and raised mother and her brothers, both of whom served the Confederacy during the Civil War. Ashbaugh stresses that Roosevelt’s views evolved over time, and he demonstrates how Roosevelt believed in and promoted the Progressive views of his time such as the assimilation of Native Americans, but that he also respected many aspects of Native culture and had enduring friendships with individual Native Americans. Ashbaugh presents Roosevelt’s views on Jews and immigration, and he details many aspects of Roosevelt’s feelings toward and relationship with African-Americans, including his condemnation of lynching, his White House dinner with Booker T. Washington, and the Brownsville incident.
Five photographs and two illustrations appear in the text.
Collection
Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal
Creation Date
2020
Creator(s)
Language
English
Period
Theodore Roosevelt and Public Memory (1919-present)
Page Count
13
Production Method
Record Type
Image
Resource Type
Rights
No permission is required from the Theodore Roosevelt Association to use items in the Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal collection for educational purposes. For permissions, contact William Tilchin at (516) 921-6319 or by email at wnt@bu.edu.
Citation
Cite this Record
Chicago:
Theodore Roosevelt through the prism of race: Black, white, and shades of grey. [December 11, 2025]. Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o308780. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Ashbaugh, John B.. Theodore Roosevelt through the prism of race: Black, white, and shades of grey. [11 Dec. 2025]. Image.
Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. December 11, 2025. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o308780.
APA:
Ashbaugh, John B.., [2025, December 11]. Theodore Roosevelt through the prism of race: Black, white, and shades of grey.
Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o308780.
Cite this Collection
Chicago:
Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/theodore-roosevelt-association-journal. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. December 11, 2025. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/theodore-roosevelt-association-journal.
APA:
Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/theodore-roosevelt-association-journal.
