Learn Something

Our country's teachers are lazy slackers who teach just enough to pass the state-wide standardized test. Luckily, I'm here with Mental Floss to teach you about the things that really matter. Say, for instance... Horribly Racist U.S. Presidents Abraham Lincoln Hater History: In his younger days Honest Abe was quick to use the "N" word and tell a good "darky" joke. Oh, and he loved him some blackface, but to be fair, who doesn't? Tell Us How You Really Feel: "I am not, nor ever have been in favor of bringing about in any way the social and political equality of the white and black races. I am not nor ever have been in favor of making voters or jurors of negroes, nor qualifying them to hold office, nor to intermarry with white people; and I will say in addition to this that there is a physical difference between the white and black races which I believe will ever forbid the two races living together on terms of social and political equality..." Still Don't Believe Us?: He also called for the deportation of blacks to Africa not once, but twice, in a State of the Union address. Honest Abe indeed. Andrew Jackson Hater History: Well, he broke treaties with the Natives, then packed them off to reservations with his Indian Removal Act. Oh, and he killed thousands in the process. Tell Us How You Really Feel: "The only good Indian is a dead Indian." Still Don't Believe Us?: C'mon, isn't that quote enough? Woodrow Wilson Hater History: Aside from keeping blacks out of Princeton while he was president there, and hating his job at Bryn Mawr (where he felt his talents were being squandered on women), he also dug the KKK. Tell Us How You Really Feel: [To a delegation of angry black politicians] "Segregation is not a humiliation but a benefit, and ought to be so regarded by you gentlemen." At least he used the word gentlemen. Still Don't Believe Us?: [in praise of the Klan] "The white men were roused by a mere instinct of self-preservation... until at last there had sprung into existence a great Ku Klux Klan, a veritable empire of the South, to protect the Southern country." Harry Truman Hater History: A total opportunist, dirty Harry flirted with the KKK vote -- enough to join and pay the $10 membership fee. Tell Us How You Really Feel: "I think one man is just as good as another so long as he's not a nigger or a Chinaman. Uncle Will says that the Lord made a White man from dust, a nigger from mud, then He threw up what was left and it came down a Chinaman. He does hate Chinese and Japs. So do I. It is race prejudice, I guess. But I am strongly of the opinion Negroes ought to be in Africa, Yellow men in Asia and White men in Europe and America." Well, at least we know why he was so eager to nuke Japan. Still Don't Believe Us?: "The Jews, I find are very, very selfish... when they have power, physical, financial or political neither Hitler nor Stalin has anything on them for cruelty or mistreatment..." Richard Nixon Hater History: When he wasn't bombing the hell out of Vietnamese villages, Tricky Dick was referring to the Big Apple as Jew York City. What a guy! Tell Us How You Really Feel: [on blacks] "... I know they're not going to make it for 500 years. They aren't. You know it, too. The Mexicans are a different cup of tea. They have a heritage. At the present time they steal, they're dishonest, but they do have some concept of family life. They don't live like a bunch of dogs, which the Negroes do live like." Still Don't Believe Us?: "The Jews are irreligious, atheistic, immoral bunch of bastards." Check out Mental_Floss for more extremely important information.