Phillis Wheatley And Black Heroes Of The Revolution – OpEd

By Lawrence W. Reed

Out of a total population of 2.5 million at the time of the Declaration of Independence, black Americans numbered about half a million, or 20%. Most were enslaved, but at least 30,000 were free men and women.

Slavery is always and everywhere an unconscionable stain, an egregious error, a monstrous outrage, a horrible sin. Every human possesses a natural right to be his own master, so long as he does not deny that same right to others.

Most people take that principle for granted today...