Taonga Leslie 11/11/25 Taonga Leslie 11/11/25

Responsive Constitutionalism and the Idea of Dignity

“The Reconstruction Amendments responded to slavery—not only in the sense that they were intended to address the harms done to enslaved people, but also (and, I think, more importantly) in the sense that they were intended to universalize human freedom and define human freedom in contrast to slavery.”

The Second Founding and the First Amendment

“This Article makes a novel contribution to the literature regarding the Second Founding by centering enslaved persons’ voices as constitutional actors whose views on freedom of speech matter.”

Abolition Constitutionalism

“[We should consider the abolitionist history of the Reconstruction Amendments as a usable past to help move toward a radical future.”

Responsive Constitutionalism and the Idea of Dignity

The Second Founding and the First Amendment

Abolition Constitutionalism

“We, the people”—not we, the white people—not we, the citizens, or the legal voters—not we, the privileged class— but we, the people—the men and women, do ordain and establish this Constitution”