Your TR Source
In this article, Theodore Roosevelt describes race relations in Brazil, comparing Brazil’s attitude toward race relations to that of the United States.
Sagamore Hill National Historic Site
1914-02-21
President Roosevelt responds to a letter from his friend John Milliken Parker. Roosevelt remarks on Parker’s “hysterical tone” suggesting that “increase of rape” and the “relations of the races” has anything to do with Roosevelt’s friendship with Booker T. Washington. Roosevelt does not believe he needs to speak to the press as Parker suggests and gives many examples when he expounded his beliefs on the matter of race relations.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-03
President Roosevelt sends two editorials to Francis E. Leupp concerning Roosevelt’s policy toward African Americans. One accuses Roosevelt of being too lax in standing up for African Americans, while the other claims Roosevelt has shown one-sided intensity instead of tact and patience.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-09-19
President Roosevelt examines various social premises in American society that are inherently unequal for African Americans. Roosevelt calls on white Americans to seek out the good in neighbors, regardless of race, and with the goal of improving life and prosperity for all Americans. Roosevelt believes that skin color detrimentally impacts the black population’s ability to live free without the threat of violence, achieve a good education, and acquire a good paying job. The mob mentality that adversely targets African Americans must be rooted out. In relation to capital and labor, Roosevelt again criticizes the mob mentality that excites violent class hatred against the wealthy. It is not in America’s interest to elect anyone whose platform is built on “violence and hypocrisy.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-30
John Byrne was pleased to read President Roosevelt’s letters regarding the “negro question” in the southern states. Byrne believes with Roosevelt regarding African American citizenship, but given the current southern resistance to equal rights, thinks that the less said about the matter, the better, until after the presidential election.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-09-10
An article titled “The President’s Original Southern Platform” asserts that southerners should pay attention to a letter that Herman Henry Kohlsaat wrote in response to Reverend W. W. Landrum. Landrum asserted that “the negro question” is a purely religious problem in the South, and Kohlsaat relays conversations he had with President Roosevelt where Roosevelt said that he intended to appoint Democrats in the South when he could not find appropriate Republicans in positions. The writer of the article notes that the South asks Roosevelt to keep African Americans out of public office in the South. The newspaper page includes the letters from both Kohlsaat and Landrum.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-06-07