Robert E. Lee and Me: A Southerner's Reckoning with the Myth of the Lost Cause

Pick one or two chapters and examine how Seidule links his life story to the ideas about racism that he wants to teach.

Opponents of Seidule accuse him of using contemporary standards to judge historical figures who occupied a different political and moral environment. Evaluate the charge. How do you think Seidule would respond?

Seidule often refers to his childhood dream of being a “Southern gentleman” but ends up doubting that he can separate this identity from an embrace of the Lost Cause myth. Is it possible to preserve the desirable qualities of a ‘Southern gentleman’ without endorsing, even implicitly, the racist qualities often associated with that identity?

Seidule speaks extensively about American racism at home, but he says almost nothing about racism abroad, much of which occurred in the context of warfare. Is this an omission that diminishes the power of his argument, or is he wise to maintain a domestic focus as a worthwhile starting point?

Why did the cult of Lee become a national phenomenon, rather than a strictly Southern one? Did Southern mythmaking catch on in the North, or is there something about Lee (and the Lost Cause more broadly) that can appeal to the overall character of the United States?

Much of the book is concerned with public memorialization, and Seidule wishes that there were more monuments for the victims of slavery, Jim Crow, and lynching. Do you think this should be an important focus of efforts to address racial injustice?

Do you agree with Seidule’s assessment that Robert E. Lee was a traitor on behalf of slavery? Is there anything in Lee’s record worthy of respect, or even some degree of public commemoration, without endorsing the cause for which he fought?

Much of Seidule’s book focus on the darkest aspects of US history, but there are flickering signs of hope for the future. Do you see evidence, in the book or elsewhere, that America is capable of overcoming its legacy of racism, or at least capable of making substantial improvements?