The adage “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July” by Frederick Douglass is a story on how slaves are treated and the impression of the fourth of July to slaves. Douglass talks about how he, as well as other slaves, do not feel the need to celebrate like the white people. “You may rejoice, I must mourn” (Douglass 378). This is a compelling piece of writing because he speaks for the slaves, how slaves are treated, his background as a slave, and the extraordinary qualities of America.
Douglass starts off the story with reasons about why the slaves do not feel the same as the white people. How Douglass analogizes this is by saying, “The sunlight that has brought life and healing to you has brought stripes and death to me” (Douglass 378). While speaking for the slaves he talks about how slavery is the biggest disappointment in America (Douglass 379). Throughout the Fourth of July, white people talked about equality for all but to the slaves they knew that no such thing
…show more content…
Douglass refers to the slave trades as “man-drover” instead of a “swine-drover” (Douglass 382). He says this because, “men and women were reared like swine for the market” (Douglass 382). The slaveholders were cruel people. They had all different types of torture devices they could use on the slaves. He then goes on to talk about, the sights and sounds. Cries from those who have been torn apart from their families. The yells from the slave masters as they give orders to the slaves. The sound of the whip echoed through the land followed by a scream of pure pain. That scream was from a woman who had a child and chains. Therefore, her speed of walking slowed and she received the whip to her shoulders (Douglass 383). All of these things happened not in fields, but on the way to New Orleans so that the slaves could be sold. Finally, they made it to New Orleans only to be treated like animals. The men and women were looked at like a piece of meat. Only wanted for work, nothing
Mr. Douglass was trying to express how a slave feels about the Fourth of July. Frederick Douglass thinks that the Fourth of July is a “sham.” He thinks it is an example of the injustice against black people and the hypocrisy of white people. He says “with all your religious parade and solemnity, are, to Him, mere bombast, fraud, deception, impiety, and hypocrisy.” Mr. Douglass believes that America’s denunciation of tyrants is hypocritical and
Frederick Douglass, a former slave, was one of the greatest public speakers for the abolitionist cause. He was called upon to speak on July 5, 1852, at the Rochester, New York Ladies’ Anti-Slavery Society, and gave his famous speech, “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July”. Douglass explains how Independence Day is supposed to be a joyous holiday for Americans, however it is more like mockery to African-Americans because, regardless of being freed slaves, they still do not have the freedoms they deserve. Douglass uses different rhetorical strategies to convey his message and emotions to his audience, including biblical allusions. Douglass ends his speech by demonstrating a sense of hope just after painting a very dark picture of reality
In his speech, “What to a Slave is the Fourth of July?,” Douglass creates a strong piece through structure, rhetoric, carefully crafted arguments. In the first section of his speech, Douglass
Douglass utilizes pathos to evoke the emotions of the audience. He speaks of the slaves’ pain, suffering, and injustice. He states, 'What, to the American slave, is your 4th of July? I answer, a day that reveals to him, more than all other days in the year, the gross injustice and cruelty to which he is the constant victim.' With this sentence, Douglass paints a vivid image of the suffering and injustice African Americans experience on the Fourth of July.
On the 4th of July, independence day, Douglass gave a speech still remembered to this day. His famous, "What to the Slave is 4th of July?" lecture address slavery and why it is contradicting America’s roots and beliefs; equality, freedom, and democracy. This shows Douglass’ views on humanity, all blacks are human and should be treated equal.
Freedom is the primary ideal upon which America was founded. It is the tenet most cherished by the original colonists; it is a pillar upon which they built the new government. However, freedom was denied to a large part of America's citizens for a long time. Frederick Douglas was one of the greatest activists for African-American freedom of the 19th century; he used literary works and speeches, instead of violence, to achieve his goals. In his piece "What, to the Slave, is the Fourth of July?"
The Narrative of the life of Frederick Douglass shows the imbalance of power between slaves and their masters. In his book, Douglass proves that slavery is a destructive force not only to the slaves, but also for the slaveholders. “Poison of the irresponsible power” that masters have upon their slaves that are dehumanizing and shameless, have changed the masters themselves and their morality(Douglass 39). This amount of power and control in contact with one man breaks the kindest heart and the purest thoughts turning the person evil and corrupt. Douglass uses flashbacks that illustrate the emotions that declare the negative effects of slavery.
What to the Slave is the Fourth of July Introduction The 4th of July is an important day in American history it represents freedom and is usually associated with fireworks, parades, alcohol, and concerts. Those activities more or less represent today’s culture. When Fredrick Douglass made his speech he talked about American values such as liberty, citizenship, and freedom. The irony of this speech was that at the time white Americans in the south were still participating in slave trading.
He questions his audience of the significance of Independence Day to slaves, and he answers it in an extremely contrasting way: “your national greatness, swelling vanity; your sounds of rejoicing are empty and heartless; … your shouts of liberty and equality, hollow mockery,” that the celebration is “a thin veil to cover up crimes which would disgrace a nation of savages.” Douglass dismisses the national pride, characterizing it as a mere expression of people’s ignorance. The antithesis, with “greatness” being “vanity,” “sounds of rejoicing are empty and heartless,” and “shouts of liberty and equality” being “hollow mockery,” provokes shock and anger from the audience, who have just been part of it and are now degraded as “savages.” However, Douglass was not trying to be inflammatory but provocative, witnessing the pathetic enthusiasm in the anniversary, that people feel exuberant about themselves while ignoring the saddening
In 1776, on July 4th, the 13 English colonies officially declared their freedom from England. However, as the years progressed, slavery became incorporated into everyday American life. In 1852, former slave Frederick Douglass gave a speech to celebrate America’s independence; however, instead of praising the country, he censured Americans for saying they were a “country of the free”. In the speech, Hypocrisy of American Slavery, Frederick Douglass declares that Americans should not be celebrating their freedom when there are slaves living in the country. To convince his audience that Americans are wrong celebrating freedom on the 4th of July when slavery exists in their country, he uses emotional appeal, ethical appeal, and rhetorical questions.
Douglass expresses to his spectators, while they dwell in the luxurious ability to partake in this joyous celebration of freedom for a nation, not everyone in that nation is sharing in the celebration. In The Meaning of July Fourth for the Negro, he writes “The blessings in which you, this day, rejoice, are not enjoyed in common. The rich inheritance of justice, liberty, prosperity and independence bequeathed by your fathers, is shared by you and not by me. This Fourth of July is yours, not mine. You may rejoice, I must mourn” (Douglass 1).
In 1776, on July 4th, the 13 English colonies officially declared their freedom from England. However, as the years progressed, slavery became incorporated into everyday American life. In 1852, Frederick Douglass, a former slave, was called upon to deliver a speech to celebrate America’s independence; however, he censured Americans for saying they were a “country of the free”. In the speech, Hypocrisy of American Slavery, Frederick Douglass declares that Americans should not be celebrating their freedom when there are slaves living in the country. He uses emotional appeal, ethical appeal, and rhetorical questions to convince his audience that Americans are wrong celebrating freedom on the 4th of July when slavery exists in their country.
Douglass stated, “What am I to argue that it is wrong to make men brutes, to rob them of their liberty, to work them without wages, to keep them ignorant of their relations to their fellow-men, to beat them with sticks, to flay their flesh with the lash, to load their limbs with irons, to hunt them with dogs, to sell them at auction, to sunder their families, to knock out their teeth, to burn their flesh, to starve them into obedience and submission to their masters?” He successfully expresses his pain and anger in this quote by providing images of his and his people’s suffering. He tapped into the emotions of his audience, such as mothers, workers, and those who have felt physically pain by exposing them to the amplified struggles he and others had to face. Nonetheless, he continually reminded the audience, both explicitly and subliminally, that his group of people are too human, and that the only difference they share is the color of their skin. He is pleading his cases and hoping that it gets across to his audience in hope they will do the right
Hunger, Katie SR “The Fourth of July” Background Audre Lorde was a New York born, self described “black, lesbian, mother, warrior, poet.” A lot of her work addressed issues with racism, sexism, and homophobia. Not only did Lorde write a lot of poetry, but from a young age she replied to people by quoting poetry that she had memorized. Lorde’s nickname is “Gamba Adisa” which means “Warrior: she who makes her meaning clear.” She took the name in an African naming ceremony.
In the book, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, Frederick Douglass reveals his life as a slave and the valuable lessons he learned from his experience. Douglass wants the truth about slavery to be revealed and wants to eliminate the lies that portray slavery as beneficial. Douglass exposes the reality of slavery by criticizing the “romantic image” of slavery, showing the intellectual capabilities slaves had, and revealing the reasons why slaves were disloyal to each other. Douglass criticizes the southern, romantic image of slavery by exposing the harsh treatment and sadness that slaves endured. It was southerners who thought slavery as beneficial, because it benefited themselves and white society.