The Complexities Surrounding Birthright Citizenship in America
After reading Philip Yaure’s article in Time, I became particularly interested in Frederick Douglass’ advocacy for birthright citizenship, as his powerful arguments emphasized the importance of including all people born in the United States under its constitutional protections.
The debate over birthright citizenship in the United States has long been a contentious issue, often centered around children born to immigrant parents. However, the struggle extends beyond this single aspect, encompassing broader questions about national identity, constitutional rights, and the interpretation of the Fourteenth Amendment. While the presence of immigrant families has intensified the discussion, the core of the debate involves how America defines citizenship and who is entitled to its protections and privileges, making it a complex and multifaceted challenge.
Rethinking Citizenship as Active Participation and Resistance
Douglass’s Vision: Citizenship Beyond Birthright
Frederick Douglass’s example offers a radical and inspiring way to think about citizenship. Rather than seeing it solely as a status granted by birth or paperwork, Douglass argued for a broader, more active conception—one earned through allegiance, contribution, and resistance to injustice. He envisioned citizenship as a dynamic relationship, where individuals and their communities build and sustain the nation together.
Citizenship as Allegiance and Contribution
Douglass believed that citizenship was not just a passive inheritance but a reciprocal relationship. He pointed to the service of Black soldiers in the Union Army as proof that those who contribute to the nation’s well-being, and demonstrate allegiance to its ideals, are true citizens. In this view, citizenship is something that can be earned and demonstrated through service and commitment, and those who do so deserve the full protection of the law.
Citizenship as Resistance to Injustice
For Douglass, citizenship was also a tool for resistance. Everyday acts of defiance by enslaved people, and the tireless work of abolitionists, were themselves forms of citizenship. Douglass’s perspective challenges us to see citizenship as an active, participatory stance—sometimes even an oppositional one—against oppression. In this sense, resisting tyranny and supporting one another are fundamental acts of nation-building.
Active Participation: The “Ballot Box, Jury Box, Cartridge Box”
Douglass famously argued that full citizenship requires the right to vote, serve on a jury, and defend oneself and the nation. He called these the “ballot box, the jury box, and the cartridge box.” This powerful metaphor extends the idea of citizenship beyond mere government protection; it demands active involvement in governance, justice, and defense. Citizenship is not only about rights—it is about responsibilities and engagement.
Inclusive National Identity: The Composite Nationality
Douglass championed a vision of America as a “composite nationality,” one that would embrace people of all races and backgrounds. He saw the country’s strength in its diversity, arguing that anyone willing to commit to its ideals should be able to become American. His opposition to exclusionary laws like the Chinese Exclusion Act was rooted in a belief that legal and social exclusion undermines the principle of universal citizenship.
Protection and the Meaning of Citizenship
At its core, Douglass believed that the government’s principal role is to guarantee protection for its citizens and their rights. Freedom without citizenship’s rights and protections is meaningless. A just government must ensure that all its citizens—regardless of how they came to be here—are safe and free to pursue happiness.
Why Douglass’s Vision Matters Today
In light of contemporary challenges to birthright citizenship, Douglass’s broader conception is more relevant than ever. Citizenship should not be reduced to a legal technicality or a privilege reserved for a select few. Instead, it should be recognized as an active, participatory status—built through allegiance, contribution, resistance to injustice, and inclusive belonging. This view challenges us to expand the definition of who is entitled to the full rights and protections of American life.
As we continue to debate birthright citizenship, Douglass’s example asks us to consider: Who builds this nation, and who sustains it? The answer, according to Douglass, is everyone who commits to its ideals, contributes to its well-being, and stands up against injustice. That is the foundation of true citizenship—and the promise of a nation that belongs to all.
Minister A Francine Green
November 2025
afrancinegreen.com 