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Liberty Chronicles, Ep. 66: Was Frederick Douglass a Libertarian?

305 views · Published 7 August 2018 · 42:01 · Indexed 14 November 2026

Channel: Libertarianism.org · 2018 · News & Politics

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Tim 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.

Find this episode on our website at: https://www.libertarianism.org/podcasts/liberty-chronicles/self-made-frederick-douglass-tim-sandefur

If you like this you might enjoy:

Frederick Douglass: Self-Made Man:
https://www.libertarianism.org/media/free-thoughts/frederick-douglass-self-made-man

"You Are a Man And So Am I" by Frederick Douglass
https://www.libertarianism.org/publications/essays/you-are-man-so-am-i

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