Two Models of Patriotism: Frederick Douglass, Martin Luther King Jr.

In this new episode of “The Civic Discourse Project,” Lucas E. Morel discusses two significant figures in American history: Frederick Douglas and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Both, according to Morel, saw themselves as patriots of their country. Dr. King defined his dream as “deeply rooted in the American dream,” while Douglass believed that the country’s founders had “seized upon eternal principles.” They both believed that advancements in Black Americans’ civil rights required a powerful federal government.