Symbols of Freedom by Matthew J. Clavin

Matthew J. Clavin Symbols of Freedom: Slavery and Resistance Before the Civil War (New York University Press, 2023).

We all know Patrick Henry's iconic quote, "Give me liberty or give me death!" For many, these words encapsulate the fervent spirit of the American Revolutionary era. Delivered in 1775, as tensions escalated between the colonies and British rule, the quote exemplifies Henry's call for decisive action against oppression. The stark ultimatum conveyed the sentiment of sacrificing personal safety for the sake of freedom, rallying patriots to unite in their fight for independence. Such impassioned rhetoric not only stirred the hearts of many colonists but continues to serve as a timeless reminder of the willingness to face dire consequences in pursuit of fundamental rights, making it a hallmark of revolutionary zeal.

Nice words, but anyone who stayed awake in 8th grade history will tell you that this “liberty” of which Henry spoke did not apply equally in colonial North America. And the inequality lived on well beyond the Revolutionary era…some might contend that we still deal with the lingering effects today. And thus we have the the founding contradiction: lofty principles coupled with the realities of an unequal society.

Here’s a exercise in logic for you. If the United States came about in the context of inequality, where oppression was the order of the day, especially for black slaves until 1865 and segregated black citizens well into the 20th century, then are the national symbols really just symbols of oppression? For some the answer is unequivocally yes.

But I think there is lots of room to complicate the picture. Sure, the contradictions at the founding are clear - but does that mean the principles that framed the founding are empty? Does this mean that the nation’s symbols are “lies” as many insist? I think not, and I also believe that it’s worth it to examine the actions of those who sought to realize the full potential of the nation and use those principles and symbols to illuminate and push for basic human rights.

Here’s what I love about Clavin’s new book - he acknowledges the contradictions while at the same time noting the frequency with which marginalized people not only used symbolic dates and symbols to champion their cause or resist oppression, but also how they embraced the convictions of the founding generation’s words, deeds, and national symbols in service to their causes. In other words, even those who understood the national shortcomings could seize the principles in all their transcendent meaning and work to apply them to all Americans…effecting a “contagion” of liberty as a famous scholar once suggested.

Illustrating striking complexity, Clavin compels the reader to think deeply about the meaning of nationalism - particularly as today’s politicians, journalists, and activists seem hell-bent on narrowing the definition to a singular perspective - where forces of nationalism definitively aligned (and continue to align) against marginalized Americans.

Those who made a mockery of national symbols representing a land of liberty had plenty with which to work. I mean, the idea of promoting freedom while at the same time sanctioning slavery sat uneasily with contemporaries too (not just us…). Check out this poem crafted in the 1830s - noting with brutal imagery the realities of a clear hypocrisy:

United States, your banner wears

Two emblems - one of fame;

Alas, the other that it bears

Reminds us of your shame,

Your standard’s constellation types

White freedom by its stars;

But what’s the meaning of the stripes?

They mean your negroes’ scars.

Ah but one example of the many that make clear the critics of the era. But we might also look at the critiques from a place of love for (rather than hate of) the nation’s symbols. Clavin makes crystal clear that the abolitionists of the day expressed a love for the flag and all it represented. In fact, coupled with sectional anti-slavery feeling, many abolitionists tended more to reject the use of the flag by slave-holding southerners, not the use of the flag in general. As Clavin suggests, rather than attacking the flag itself, sought to reclaim it for the cause of freedom. (15) The same holds true for Independence Day celebrations, when black and white abolitionists alike “seized upon the Declaration of Independence” in the words of historian David Waldstreicher, “to show that the American Revolution meant equality for all people.” (56)

I encourage anyone who seeks to look beyond today’s simplistic (though somewhat fashionable) rejection of national symbols and understand the more nuanced story to read this book. You’ll see precisely why marginalized communities and individuals in the past would cling to physical representations of high-minded ideals. I especially suggest paying close attention to the epilogue, describing the enlistment and combat experiences of one William H. Carney, of the storied 54th Massachusetts, a black Civil War regiment commanded by white officers. What was his greater purpose? As he noted early on, “…serving [his] country and [his] oppressed brothers.” After the regiment’s famed attack on Battery Wagner on July 18, 1863, he remarked, “Boys I but did my duty; the dear old flag never touched the ground.” (203-4)

I understand that black Americans had a long way to go to achieve any sense of equality in America. And, we should take seriously the argument that disparities persist, disproportionately affecting black Americans due to historical injustices like slavery, and that these lingering effects manifest in areas like education, employment, criminal justice, and wealth inequality. Still, engaging the arguments alongside the assumption that the founding principles and associated symbols meant to exclude black Americans and other marginalized groups by design tends to miss a greater point and obscure the efforts of those who harnessed said principles and symbols in the name of freedom and equality. Theirs is a story worth telling.

Do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of this insightful and probing book - then we can talk.

With compliments,

Keith