The Role of Race in Our Nation’s Founding

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.” Most Americans are familiar with these famous words at the beginning of the Declaration of Independence. However, far fewer people are familiar with the racist words later in the Declaration, labeling Native Americans “savages” and warning of “domestic insurrections” from enslaved individuals. These phrases laid bare the role of race in the founding of the United States. This episode of Justice Above All dives into history and probes how America’s promise of equality remains unfulfilled for so many today. The 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence calls us to write a new chapter: a multi-racial democracy where power is shared, dignity is sacred, and thriving is the standard for everyone.