In this book freedom is divided into six categories.
Type A Fidus Freedom Believers
This group believes freedom comes with tremendous responsibilities to your fellow man.
This group believed in unconditional freedom. They wanted it right away. They fought for what they believed and wouldn’t stop at anything to get their point across. They would challenge the status quo. If they did not find a resolution through conventional channels, they would resort to unconventional tactics. These were the individuals who would go on to establish operations such as the Underground Railroad, and other constituents of the abolition movement.
Type B Fidus Believers
This group is somewhat irresponsible when it comes to the freedom of others.
This group believed in gradual freedom with conditions. They thought the process should move slowly to not offend harder liners. This group was very reluctant to fight for what they believed. These believers would only go so far before they accepted some form of compromise, always looking for a way say they tried, but there was nothing they could do. Many of the framers of the American constitution were these types of Fidus freedom believers. They were reluctant to reject the status quo for fear of being ostracized by their peers.
Type C Fidus Freedom
This group could go any way the wind blows, as long as they are not pressured to take sides.
This group believed in freedom, but they were reluctant to give up their status to promote their beliefs. This group was content to watch the freedom of others erode if their position was unchanged. This group was not directly harmful to the slave community, nor were they willing to get in the way of freedom seekers. Their silence made them hard to recognize. If they were discovered, they were quick to assert their right to be left alone.
Type A Legibus Freedom Believers
This group has a very visible core belief that freedom is the right to do anything they want to do.
This group is straight racist in the worst form. When this group speak of freedom, they are only talking about people like them, who are also racist. This group is quick to fight for what they believe. They have a false sense of entitlement. They view others unlike them as inferior creatures who must be controlled. This group believes they inherited their freedom by virtue of their superior nature. This group will take advantage of anyone who looks vulnerable, even among their own. This group has a history of believing negative myths about other races. They often call on religion to undergird their beliefs. Compromise is viewed as weakness, and those among them who step out of line will be greatly persecuted.
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Type B Legibus Freedom Believers
This group has a subtle belief that freedom is the right to do anything you want to do, but they disguise this belief with their willingness to discuss the matter.
This group doesn’t like to be called racist. When this group speaks of freedom, they are also talking about people like themselves, but they are reluctant to defend the rights of others. This group blames those of the opposite race for the bulk of their problems. This group tends to have a knowledge deficit as it relates to freedom. This group’s quest for survival ungirds their beliefs about freedom. They are quick to look for a way out of any discussion of true freedom and equality. This group uses cleverly coded words to describe themselves, while they also choose words to describe those who oppose them, such as liberals and “the far left.” This group prides themselves on pursuing equality for all, but get very jealous when they think others, unlike them, have any type of advantage. At this point, this group becomes very hostile. This group will compromise if the outcome clearly tilts in their direction.
Type C Legibus Freedom
This group has little to no core values about freedom. They simply want to survive.
This group abhors being called racist. When this group speaks of freedom, they are usually talking about their inability to provide for themselves. This group doesn’t want to be publicly associated with straight racist. Instead of making trouble, they will hide themselves, only to emerge when sheer chaos makes them difficult to recognize. In public, this group appears even tempered. When forced to choose sides they tilt mostly towards those who are type C Legibus believers. If backed into a corner, this group will secretly go with the type A Legibus freedom believers.
