Ep. 65: Was Frederick Douglass a Libertarian?

Timothy Sandefur joins us this week to discuss how Frederick Douglass and his beliefs do not align perfectly to today’s political factions. He is often mischaracterized due to his legendary status. Has Douglass been purposefully distorted over time? Does the omission of facts about what he did and how he acted play a large role in that distortion? Frederick Douglass is defined as an individualist, which is best exemplified by his speeches and attitudes toward serving in the military. In his speeches and writings, he believed that slaves should join the army, not to serve their country, but rather, to give themselves a sense of pride. This, he believed, was a crucial way for the slaves to feel empowered because they earned their freedom in a way that ensured that it would never be taken away.Further ReadingFrederick Douglass: Self-Made Man, by Timothy Sandefur How Libertarians Ought to Think About the U.S. Civil War by Timothy Sandefur Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave, Written by Himself  Music by Kai EngelRelated ContentSlavery in America, Encyclopedia of Libertarianism What to a Slave is the Fourth of July, written by Frederick Douglass Frederick Douglass: Self-Made Man, Free Thoughts Episode   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.