And There Was Light

More about the book

A president who governed a divided country offers valuable lessons for today's polarized political landscape. Abraham Lincoln faced relentless secessionists during a time when issues of money, power, race, identity, and faith clashed. He was both reviled and revered, embodying the complexities of presidential power and its limitations. Often viewed as either a distant icon or a calculating politician, this new portrait reveals a more human Lincoln—an imperfect man whose moral commitment to antislavery was crucial to America's quest for justice. This narrative traces Lincoln's journey from his birth on the Kentucky frontier in 1809 through his leadership during the Civil War and his tragic assassination in 1865. It explores his self-education, personal struggles, political setbacks, and deepening faith, highlighting his unwavering belief that slavery must end. Set against the backdrop of a nation shaped by the courage of the enslaved and the witness of Black Americans, Lincoln's story sheds light on the dynamics of politics, the exercise of power in a tumultuous democracy, the persistence of white supremacy, and the role of conscience in navigating historical events.