Self-Fulfilling Prophecy in Race Theory

I really enjoyed Field's Slavery, Race and Ideology in the United States. It was easy to get through, engaging and brought up some really interesting points. One point she made in discussing race theory is the notion that oppression of a race creates a polarized thinking that leads to a superiority (or inferiority) complex which then devolves into this notion of race. To me, this seems congruous with self-fulfilling prophecy. "We have conquered", the victors would say, and believe they really are the stronger group. In the meanwhile, the conquered begin to create their own identity around this notion, either accepting or rejecting it. This goes a long way to indicate which group will dominate and the theories of race that follow. What if we had been the ones to feel -and be made to feel- inferior?

Another instance of self-fulfilling prophecy, was the story of how the slaves' emancipation during the Civil War began, not with Lincoln, but with them. By interpreting their owners' fear of the North and the Republican Party, they began to see Lincoln as a savior, a mindset that would eventually contribute to his decision to become exactly that. I would love to read up more on this particular incident, as I am not sure what historical background it has, but it never ceases to amaze me how cyclical some of these events can be, and how the mindset of not only the victors and authorities can determine an outcome, but of the victims as well.