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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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