Essay about What to the slave is the fourth of july

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, â€Å"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†¦show more content†¦By supporting the Revolutionaries actions to break free from British Rule, Douglass alluded to the similar fight that the American population faced to attain the same liberty that white citizens ha d. With the same courage the Founding Fathers had to create a free country, the American generation of 1852 faced a similar test to uphold the values of the Declaration of Independence, and liberate American slaves.7 After applauding the Founding Fathers, Douglass acknowledges that the emphasis of his speech is not to give praise, but to call on America to act on it’s own failures and begin to faithfully fulfill the nations oath.8 He asks his audience, â€Å"Are the great principles of political freedom and of natural justice, embodied in that Declaration of Independence, extended to us [African Americans]?†9 This rhetorical question Douglass presents, challenges America to reevaluate what they are truly celebrating on the Fourth of July, for it is surely not the freedom in which they claim to have achieved. Douglass asserts that asking black people to rejoice in the â€Å"shouts of liberty and equality, hollow mockery†10 and do not respect the courage, and step s the Founding Fathers took to create a free, liberated nation.11 Early on in Douglass’ career as an abolitionist, he affiliated his beliefs to fellow abolitionist, William Lloyd Garrison, claiming that theShow MoreRelatedEssay What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July704 Words   |  3 Pagesâ€Å"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. The speech â€Å"What to the Slave is the Fourth of July† opens with Frederick Douglas explaining how he was asked to give a speech on the Fourth of July. He then gives a brief statement about how hard his journey has been and now heRead MoreWhat To The Slave Is The Fourth Of July, By Frederick Douglass821 Words   |  4 Pagessomething. â€Å"What to the Slave is the Fourth of July†, â€Å"Ain’t I a Woman†, and â€Å"Brown v. Board† are all examples that clearly show why people struggle for change. â€Å"What to the Slave† focusses on what the Fourth of July means to slaves. â€Å"Ain’t I a Woman† discusses the differences between how black women are treated compared to white women. â€Å"Brown v. Board† is about how segregation has a lot of negative factors and how they need to change it. Today most people think of the Fourth of July as a holidayRead MoreWhat to the Slave Is the Fourth of July a Rhetorical Analysis1100 Words   |  5 PagesIn his speech, What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?, Frederick Douglass passionately argues that to the slave, and even to the freed African American, the Fourth of July is no more than a mockery of the grossest kind. Douglas uses many rhetorical strategies to convey his powerful emotions on the subject, and the end result is a very effectively argued point. Douglass begins by asking a series of rhetorical questions, not without the use of sarcasm. He refers to that Declaration of IndependenceRead MoreFrederick Douglass Speech In What To The Slave Is The Fourth Of July755 Words   |  4 PagesIn his speech ‘What to the Slave is the Fourth of July’, Frederick Douglass passionately argued that to the slave and all other Americans, the Fourth of July is nothing more than a mockery of the grossest kind. Tha t the United States stands by hypocrisy to the values they ultimately swear. In his speech, Douglass made four clear points: (1) â€Å"This holiday is to rejoice for the sake of freedom and liberty†; (2) â€Å"My people have no freedom, have no liberty†; (3) â€Å"You rejoice, my people mourn† (4);Read MoreThe Main Sections Of Douglass s Speech And How They Work Together865 Words   |  4 Pagessociety. Douglass’s speech, â€Å"What to the Slave is the Fourth of July help Americans think about the slavery in a new way. There are three sections in this: Section 1: Douglass praised the Founding Fathers, and gives honor to what they did for this country. This section is the beginning of his speech and it will be the base of the second section which accuses Americans about the position of African Americans. In addition, Douglass condemned slavery and the Fugitive Slave Law. It is intelligent to startRead MoreEssay about Fredrick Douglass - Fourth of July Oration1321 Words   |  6 PagesOn 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,Read MoreGlobal Echoes Of Atlantic En lightenment And Revolution921 Words   |  4 Pagesother societies during or after their revolutions. What To a Slave Is The Fourth of July? is another source that demonstrates the international influences of the Atlantic revolutionary movements. It was written by Frederick Douglass. Douglass was born as a slave and escaped from oppression once he got older. He became a leading abolitionist, newspaper publisher, writer, and African American spokesperson. He spoke in New York on the fourth of July in 1852 about antislavery. Douglass speaks about theRead MoreFrederick Douglass : A Prominent African American Social Reformer1127 Words   |  5 Pagesvoice on social justice through a long profound, powerful, and influential career. Frederick Douglass’s famous Fourth of July speech has caused much criticism over the years. Douglass believed that on a day when white Americans were celebrating the slaves and former slaves were reminded of how their liberty and equality were disgraced in America. Frederick Douglass was born a slave but escaped to New York in 1838 where he learned to read and write. This lead to his career as an activist forRead MoreFrederick Douglass Speech1136 Words   |  5 Pagesworld and ignore any conflicting perspectives solely because they are different. In â€Å"What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?†, Frederick Douglass possesses an alternative view of a celebratory holiday representing freedom for American citizens. His background as a slave influences his unique outlook on the issue of true independence. He feels that the holiday represents the torture of slavery and the cruelty of slave owners, rather than the liberation of all American citizens. Within the speech, DouglassRead More A Speech Given By Frederick Do Essay975 Words   |  4 PagesAPPEAL After his escape from slavery, Frederick Douglass chose to promote the abolition of slavery by speaking about the actions and effects that result from that institution. In an excerpt from a July 5, 1852 speech at Rochester, New York, Douglass asks the question: What to the slave is the Fourth of July? This question is a bold one, and it demands attention. The effectiveness of his oration is derived from the personal appeals in which he engages the listener. At once in this speech, Douglass appeals