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Analysis Of What To The Negro Is The Fourth Of July

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Most Americans know about the Revolutionary War, where the founding fathers’ bravely fought out against injustice and hideous taxes. Most Americans celebrate this heroic tale every year on the Fourth of July, firing off fireworks of varied colors into the beautiful night sky. Yet most of these Americans don’t know the pain of slavery, the pain of seeing a cheer for freedom that they’ve never been a part of. In America, slavery is outlawed. Every man and woman, no matter what color, is allowed the have their basic rights from the Constitution. This wasn’t always the case, however. Frederick Douglass an important African American man in the fight for Civil Rights during the mid-1800’s called the Fourth of July a “gross injustice”. Some may ask; …show more content…

Slavery is now banned. It is considered cruel and unjust by many of the new generation. Everyone has the basic rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, although hard work was necessary to make it so. In What to the Negro is the Fourth of July?, Douglass pleas for America to “work the downfall of slavery” (Douglass). He continuously asks to see “the doom of slavery” and leaves his speech “with hope” for a new and free America (Douglass). Douglass’s wish has been granted. Slavery is gone and through the civil rights movement African Americans were able to earn basic rights. While it is true that African Americans aren’t treated as well as whites by some people, as they are still trusted less simply due to their skin color, the worst inequality is gone. African Americans are also still treated overall better than when they were “free” in the North. Back then they didn’t have basic rights “and could only have the most menial jobs” (Pearson). Now, they are at least granted the amendments in the Constitution. America might not fully follow the words “all men are created equal” just yet, but the phrase is more true than ever before for those of

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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

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Douglass establishes his credibility and authority on the issue of slavery and inequality in the United States by drawing on his own experience and expertise. He begins the speech by introducing himself as a former slave and expressing his sadness and disappointment at the Fourth of July festivities which celebrate the nation’s independence while ignoring the ongoing oppression of African Americans. He says, “I am not included within the pale of this glorious anniversary! Your high independence only reveals the immeasurable distance between us.” By acknowledging his own identity as a former slave, Douglass gives himself immediate credibility on the issue of slavery and inequality.

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Unquestionably, the scourge of slavery has left a dark imprint on African-American history. However, some envisage its nefarious consequences only in terms of those who survived enslavement. Those who, quite frankly, should know better either downplay or outright ignore this terrible event that still causes sizeable shock waves in our culture today. The end of slavery has often conflated been with the end of oppression. While those who were literally enslaved and later emancipated bore the brunt of slavery, the first free generation of children surmounted tremendous obstacles, some of which African-Americans must still face today.

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