This episode begins with a single powerful question that once unsettled the American colonies: Is it right to enslave a man because of his race? The man who asked it, James Otis, a lawyer from Boston, did not set out to start a moral revolution. He stood in a courtroom in 1761 and argued against government overreach; his argument went against Writs of Assistance—open-ended search warrants.
His case led him to a deeper truth. If liberty is grounded in natural rights, then those rights must extend to all people. From this insight emerged his challenging question: Is it right to enslave a man because he is black?
Otis’s words did not change the law, but they changed the conversation. In the years that followed, freedom suits appeared in Massachusetts. Jenny Slew, Elizabeth Freeman, and Quock Walker used the language of natural rights to claim their liberty.
Meanwhile, the founding documents of the new nation—the Declaration of Independence, the Massachusetts Constitution, the Northwest Ordinance, and even “We the People”—reflected the same tension: soaring language of liberty next to the reality of slavery.
We end with Benjamin Franklin’s image of the rising sun, a reminder that every generation must decide whether its principles will rise or fall. Otis’s question still matters. It is not only a question about history; it is a question for each of us.
Personal Reflection
Where do I need moral clarity? In work, in relationships, in responsibility, in community. One powerful question can stir a nation — and awaken a life. Is it right?
Contact Information
Have a story, a question, or a possibility you’re exploring? Email Dr. Middleton: possibilityman@icloud.comBreak Free from Emotional Distress: A Practical Guide and Personal Journey by Stephen Middleton is available on Amazon
