If Lincoln Lived is a realitybased alternate history motivated by the continuing explicit and implicit racism in the United States including the ongoing extrajudicial killings of nonviolent unarmed Blacks by poorly screened poorly trained police and delusional white supremacists. Millions of us including many of our leading lawmakers not only deny the existence of systemic racism but seem blind to the cumulative harm of the continued injustice. We laid an immoral burden on the backs of Black Americans. Weve been adding to it for generations. Even today 155 years after the Civil War we are all still suffering from the inability of many millions of our fellow citizens to acknowledge the harm weve done and allowed to fester.So I wondered What Could Have Been If Lincoln Lived Might he have been inspired by other people of goodwill to reimagine Reconstruction The Reconstruction we created was undermined by craven politicians and diehard white supremacists within just fifteen years after Lincolns death. What could have been if people of color had been allowed to earn the respect due every human being if they had been allowed a fair shot at opportunity and security What could have been if these kidnapped AfricanAmericans had been allowed to prosper in step with other minorities and whites ... to realize their dreamsThe story revolves around a single fantasy. Lincoln invites Frederick Douglass a runaway slave who had made himself the most celebrated abolitionist of his time to join the Lincolns at Fords Theater on the fateful night of April 14 1865. In Washington a few days early Douglass chances to learn about John Wilkes Booths proConfederate views. Douglass arrives at the theater alone and is spotted by Booth in the lobby. Booth is incensed at the idea of a Negro entering his white domain but has no idea that Douglass is Lincolns guest. Later when Booth enters Lincolns box to kill the president Douglass is able to intervene. He saves Lincolns life but they are both wound