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.

Frederick 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 Engel

Slavery 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

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