ICYMI: Williams on Blasting Reproach and All-Pervading Light: Frederick Douglass's Aspirational American Exceptionalism @BYULaw

ICYMI: Lucy Williams, Brigham Young University Law School, has published Blasting Reproach and All-Pervading Light: Frederick Douglass’s Aspirational American Exceptionalism at 9 American Political Thought 369 (2020). Here is the abstract.

Some scholars critique American exceptionalism as a proud, uncritical orientation. In this article, however, I argue that Frederick Douglass, an outspoken social critic, qualifies as an American exceptionalist thinker. I first identify and theorize two modes of exceptionalist rhetoric: accomplished exceptionalism, which is self-celebratory and largely uncritical, and aspirational exceptionalism, which is self-critical and reflective. I then provide a close reading of “What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July” to show how Douglass employs aspirational rhetorical techniques. Finally, I discuss the benefits of reading Douglass as an exceptionalist thinker and suggest that his aspirational rhetoric activates reflective and progressive modes of American citizenship.

The full text is not available for download from SSRN.