Reflections on the Declaration of Independence and the American Revolution
A compendium of many of my previous writings on these topics, which remain relevant today.
Frederick Douglass
Frederick Douglass vs. the 1619 Project
A new book explicates the escaped slave and renowned orator's argument that the Constitution is "a glorious liberty document" that justified ending slavery.
Damon Root: Why Frederick Douglass Loved the Constitution (and You Should Too)
The escaped slave called the Constitution "a glorious liberty document" that justified extending equality to blacks and women.
How Frederick Douglass Destroyed John C. Calhoun With the Power of John Locke
Armed with the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, and the far-reaching guarantees of liberty and equality that they contained, Douglass took the fight directly to the slaveholders.
Slavery, the Declaration of Independence and Frederick Douglass' "What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?"
Douglass' classic speech is an indictment of slavery, racism, and American hypocrisy - but also includes a great deal of praise of the American Revolution.
Juneteenth, America's Other Independence Day, Is the Holiday We Need Right Now
Frederick Douglass: "There is not a nation on the earth guilty of practices more shocking and bloody than are the people of the United States, at this very hour."
It's Time to Celebrate Juneteenth, America's Other Independence Day
Though Juneteenth is first and foremost a celebration of the end of slavery, the day has evolved in the 21st century.
America Doesn't Need Pete Buttigieg's Forced Labor Scheme
“What is freedom? It is the right to choose one’s own employment. Certainly it means that, if it means anything,” thundered Frederick Douglass.
The Inconvenient Individualism of Frederick Douglass
A bizarre New York Times piece knocks down a strawman.
The Libertarianism of Frederick Douglass: Podcast
Damon Root on how the famous abolitionist was also an outspoken classical liberal.
When the Constitution Was 'At War With Itself,' Frederick Douglass Fought on the Side of Freedom
A new appreciation of the great abolitionist on the 200th anniversary of his birth.
Frederick Douglass Hated Socialism
He stood for natural rights, racial equality, and economic liberty in a free labor system. At the heart of his worldview was the principle of self-ownership.
Frederick Douglass, Classical Liberal
A fresh look at the political evolution of a great American