On a nation that still struggles to make room for the truth of its history. If Douglass were alive today, he might still challenge us: “You celebrate independence—but what does that mean to the descendants of enslaved people? What does it mean to the communities still denied justice, still under-resourced, still struggling to breathe? Douglass argues that for the enslaved, the Fourth of July is a painful reminder of their exclusion from the nation's liberty and prosperity. He calls for the acknowledgment of the inherent humanity and rights of all individuals, challenging the nation to live up to its founding principles. 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. Frederick Douglass: “The Meaning of July Fourth for the Negro” From PBS.com and Scholar-Griot Dr. Fran Kaplan On July 5, 1852, abolitionist and ex-slave Frederick Douglass gave a speech at an event commemorating the signing of the Declaration of Independence, held at Rochester, New York's Corinthian Hall. 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. In the speech What Does the Fourth of July Mean to a Slave, Douglass refute the justifications for slavery and white supremacy by redefining Independence Day. Douglass said that the Fourth of July was a day where America as a nation declared its independence from Great Britain, and gained freedom. In 1852, abolitionist Frederick Douglass delivered his speech “The Meaning of July Fourth for the Negro,” on July 5 at an event commemorating the signing of the Declaration of Independence in Rochester, New York. Douglass’ words resonate today. What to the Slave is the Fourth of July? Summary. Douglass opens his speech by introducing himself to the crowd and discussing the Fourth of July. He describes the holiday as the anniversary of America’s freedom and reflects on how the country’s young age means that it still has the potential to either become a great nation or wither away. Why would Douglass want to deliver this speech on July fifth instead of the fourth? What are the meaning and significance of the Fourth of July from the slave’s point of view? Why did Douglass call slavery a violation of the principles of the Declaration of Independence, and why did he call the Founders “statesmen, patriots and heroes”? Why did Douglass believe that the Constitution is Frederick Douglass escaped slavery and became a leading abolitionist in the Antebellum era. One of his most famous speeches was made to the Rochester Ladies' Anti-Slavery Society for Independence Day (Fourth of July) in 1852. Here, Douglass criticized the divide between the Founding ideas of liberty and the institution of slavery. It is the birthday of your National Independence, and of your political freedom. This, to you, is what the Passover was to the emancipated people of God. It carries your minds back to the day, and to the act of your great deliverance; and to the signs, and to the wonders, associated with that act that day. What to the Slave is the Fourth of July, also known as the “Fourth of July Speech” is a public oratory piece Frederick Douglass gave at the Corinthian Hall in Rochester, New York on an invitation by the Ladies’ Anti-Slavery Society on July 5, 1852, to celebrate 76 years of the American independence. 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. . . . I will not enlarge further on your national inconsistencies. Over 200 years after Frederick Douglass questioned “What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?” in an act of resistance to Independence Day, Black Americans are still grappling with how to “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?” was a speech given by abolitionist and former slave Frederick Douglass on July 5, 1852, in Rochester, N.Y., at an event commemorating American independence. What arguments and rhetorical strategies did Frederick Douglass use to persuade a northern, white audience to oppose slavery and favor abolition? Understanding In the 1850s abolition was not a widely embraced movement in the United States. It was considered radical, extreme, and dangerous. In “What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?” Frederick Douglass sought not only to convince people In July of 1852, Frederick Douglass delivered a speech titled “What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?,” a call for the promise of liberty be applied equally to all Americans. So, what does the Fourth of July mean to a marginalized American? “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?” is a question posed by Frederick Douglass in 1852 during one of his most famous speeches. In 1850, sociopolitical tensions in the United States were at an all-time high. What is now known as the "What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?" speech was delivered on July 5, 1852 as an address to the Rochester Ladies' Anti-Slavery Society in Rochester, New York. Study with Quizlet and memorize flashcards containing terms like As used in paragraph 51, what does "traffic" most nearly mean?, What to the slave is the Fourth of July, according to the text?—what answer does Douglass provide?, PART A: To what other holiday does Douglass compare the Fourth of July? and more.
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