New Books in Political Science Keidrick Roy, "American Dark Age: Racial Feudalism and the Rise of Black Liberalism" (Princeton UP, 2024)
Jan 13, 2026
Keidrick Roy, Assistant Professor of Government at Dartmouth College and author of "American Dark Age," explores the intersections of racial feudalism and Black liberalism. He dives into how medieval imagery has influenced modern extremism, linking events like Charlottesville to historical perceptions of racial hierarchy. Roy highlights the powerful critiques made by Black abolitionists using feudal language and discusses the profound principles of antebellum Black liberalism, suggesting its relevance in today’s multi-racial reform efforts.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
America's Opposite Of Enlightenment
- Keidrick Roy frames the book around a question: what was the opposite of Enlightenment in America?
- He argues many 18th–19th century Americans saw slavery and racial hierarchy as a form of medievalism that resisted liberal progress.
Medieval Imagery At Modern Extremist Events
- Roy says modern far-right rallies and mass-shooter manifestos often display medieval imagery like Knights Templar flags and 'storming the castle' language.
- He connects this contemporary medievalism to antebellum uses of medieval symbols to justify hierarchy.
What 'Racial Feudalism' Means
- Roy defines racial feudalism as both medieval metaphors used to describe racial stratification and an ideology making racial hierarchy seem natural.
- Recovering this term shows the U.S. as neither purely feudal nor fully liberal but shaped by both traditions.
