The Meaning Of July Fourth For The Negro By Frederick Douglass

Douglass spends so much time talking about these points because he was a former slave and the fact that he was invited to make a speech about freedom and liberty for the 4th of July was not proper. Therefore, Douglass uses irony to emphasize these points; for example, “Would you have argue that man is entitled to liberty? That he is the rightful owner of his own body? You have already declared it” (Douglass 380)

“What to the Slave is the Fourth of July” is a very moving piece about what the Fourth of July means to slaves. The speech was given by Fredrick Douglas in Rochester, New York, on July 5, 1852. His use of ethos, pathos and logos made this an extremely effective speech.

On July 5th of 1852, the Ladies Antislavery Society of Rochester requested that emancipated slave, Fredrick Douglass, speak for their celebration of the United States’ national independence. Douglass accepted this request and presented a powerful speech that explained and argued his true beliefs and feelings concerning this event. He considered their decision to request him as a speaker on that day to be a mockery of his past and of the ongoing status of blacks as slaves in America at the time. Nevertheless, Douglass skillfully constructed his speech utilizing various methods that forced his audience to take him seriously and think twice about the issue of slavery in America. His passion about the subject, his ability to captivate his

Many people struggle for change because they believe they aren’t being treated fairly, a certain group of people aren’t being treated equal, or they just want to see a certain change in something. “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July”, “Ain’t I a Woman”, and “Brown v. Board” are all examples that clearly show why people struggle for change. “What to the Slave” focusses on what the Fourth of July means to slaves. “Ain’t I a Woman” discusses the differences between how black women are treated compared to white women. “Brown v. Board” is about how segregation has a lot of negative factors and how they need to change it.

On Monday July 5th, 1852, Frederick Douglass captivated his audience at Corinthian Hall in Rochester, New York with one of the most powerful antislavery orations ever delivered, “What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?”1 As an African American and former slave himself, Douglass was a crucial component to the Civil Rights movement and the abolishment of slavery. His concern for equal rights sprouted as early as twelve years old, often listening to debates among free blacks in Baltimore, as well as becoming a member of the East Baltimore Mental Improvement Society. While enslaved, he taught himself to read and write with the patriotic essays and speeches in Caleb Bingham’s The Columbian Orator, which emphasized the power of a speaker’s

Frederick Douglass is a remarkable figure when it comes to describe and expose the outcome of the oppression in the black race since memorable times seen and experienced through the centuries expressed in slavery, racism and mistreat. In “The Meaning of Fourth of July for the Negro”, Douglass states the values of not only a race but a human being in his speech, by allowing himself to represent and describe the meaning behind it by using juxtaposition, irony and imagery to fight

Douglass’ speech supported the abolitionist movement of the 1850s, which lasted until after slavery ended nationally in 1865. The location and timing of this speech are extremely vital in the components within it; had it been given on a different day the outcome may not have been the same. Frederick Douglass gave this speech on the day after America’s celebrated national Independence Day. This day is relative to slavery as it elaborately exposes the injustice and unequal treatment of fellow humans. This is one topic that Douglass expressed passionately as the white man was celebrating his independence as the black man was still in chains. “He characterized the Fourth of July as a hypocritical sham from the point of view of the millions living in the country who were still enslaved” and had not ever lived a day of a free white man (Bibby). Douglass said, “Your high independence only reveals the immeasurable distance between us,” which shows that during this time period there was a wide gap in treatment of individuals solely based on the color of their skin (Douglass 1236). Through Frederick Douglass’ speech it is evident that there was strong racial divide even without knowledge of the context. Slavery was ongoing while this speech was given, and Douglass made several claims throughout validating abolitionists views; that slavery was brutal and morally wrong.

Through his crafty use of rhetoric, Douglass delivered a scathing attack on the hypocrisy of America in his self-referential speech, “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July.” The speech articulated his passionate pursuit for liberty and equal rights. Douglass’s speech passionately argued that in the eyes of the slave and even the “free” black

Throughout “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?,” Douglass passionately argues his position that the Fourth of July, a holiday supposedly celebrating freedom and liberty,  is nothing but a hypocritical sham in the eyes of slaves and freed African Americans. In this fiery speech, Douglass calls upon his audience to fight against the oppression of slaves by properly recognizing their manhood. Douglass employs imagery to better illustrate the anger and despair felt by 19th century slaves. He uses diction, specifically rhetorical questions, to draw attention to the hypocrisy of owning slaves in a nation that celebrates the freedom of “all men”. He uses syntax to better help convey the cruelty of slavery and the terror that free and escaped slaves face knowing that they are constantly being hunted as though they are animals. Douglass’ implementation of these rhetorical devices and his appeal to pathos help him address his main message: a nation can never truly be free so long as the freedom of some is built off of the backs of the enslaved.

Douglass continues to talk about how they all came to celebrate the fourth of July, but to remember that the nation is still young and has room for positive change. Douglass then asks this question, "Are the great principles of political freedom and of natural justice, embodied in that Declaration of Independence, extended to us?” (p.407) By us Douglas is meaning blacks. This is supported by when he states that, “This Fourth of July is yours not mine. You may rejoice, I must mourn.” (p.408) Slaves and former slaves like Douglass are only saddened on Independence Day because they still have no independence to cheer for. They were lied to and taken for granted after all the work they did to earn equal rights. To ask black people to celebrate the White man’s freedom is only teasing and disrespectful irony.

On July 5th 1852, Frederick Douglass, one of history’s outstanding public speakers, carried out a very compelling speech at Corinthian Hall in Rochester, New York. Within that moment of time where the freedom of Americans was being praised and celebrated, he gathered the nation to clear up the tension among slavery and the establishment of the country’s goals. Frederick Douglass’s speech mentions the development of the young nation, the Revolution, and his own life experience. While speaking, his main subject was seen to be American slavery. The “Fourth of July Oration” was a commendable model of Frederick Douglass’s affection and engagement towards the freedom of individuals. Frederick Douglass’s speech left an impact on his audience

“What to the American slave is your Fourth of July? I answer, a day that reveals him, more than all other days in the year, the gross injustice and cruelty to which he is the constant victim. To him, your celebration is a sham; your boasted liberty, an unholy license; your national greatness, swelling vanity; your sounds of rejoicing are empty and heartless…” This is one of the vigorous statements made by Frederick Douglass in his speech What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?. In this speech, Douglass explains the viewing point of what Independence Day models for an American slave.

In Frederick Douglass’ speech, “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?” Douglass’ use of pathos is used to give a first-hand reality of being a slave, yet enduring mistreatment, unjust laws, and cruel and unusual punishment. In lines 123-130, Douglass provides a concise description of how the African Americans were treated. For instance, Douglass uses the phrase

Fredrick Douglass, in his speech What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?, asserts that slavery is keeping the United States from properly honoring the founders of their nation on Independence Day. Douglass attacks the American church, openly defiles the American slavery system, and uses the words of America’s forefathers to convince the population of American slaveholders and politicians that slavery must be abolished. He uses aggressive, accusatory diction, gory imagery, and specific examples from the United States Constitution to argue his cause.

This powerful document by Frederick Douglass was to point out that America tries to celebrate what they call independence day while all the blacks including Douglas himself are struggling because they are shackled down by prejudice with no independence to claim their own. He uses this moment he is given to speak to the people and show them how meaningless the 4th of July is when there is still oppression going on. He poetically confronts all the problems with slavery and the horrors and injustice it brings. He paints a vivid image and uses great examples and bible verses to show that the 4th of July is not a holiday for the slaves and even freed slaves because this day mocks them and forces them to watch what freedom looks like and uses psalm