The Lost Cause served as a political project after the Civil War, glorifying Confederate efforts while obscuring the brutality of slavery, aiding the rise of neo-Confederate sentiment.
Pre-Civil War Christmas customs on Southern plantations are depicted nostalgically, promoting the idea that enslaved individuals experienced joy, thus justifying the slave labor system.
Post-Civil War, white Southerners published numerous accounts claiming that slaves found life enjoyable and appreciated their owners, which reinforced racist narratives in American politics.
The imagery of enslaved individuals during the Christmas season is weaponized politically today, linking historical glories with contemporary politics, thereby influencing modern right-wing movements.
Collection
[
|
...
]