Rhetorical Analysis Of What To A Slave Is The Fourth Of July

Frederick Dougla ss gave his jeremiad, “What to a Slave is the Fourth of July?” on July Fourth, 1852 to a primarily white audience from Rochester, New York. Douglass skillfully contrasts the life of blacks and whites to illustrate the absurdity and injustice of the treatment of blacks in American society and to instate shame in his oppressors.

Douglass uses tautology in the beginning of his speech to emphasize the injustice blacks experience in America. For example, Douglass describes “mournful wails” which introduces repetition since using the word “wails” by itself implies sorrow or grief. Therefore, using “mournful” in front of “wails” amplifies the sorrow of the blacks. Also, Douglass utilizes biblical allusions to reach out to the primarily

In America, the Declaration of Independence are similar to God’s covenant to Abraham, which promised Israel to Abraham and his children. The Declaration of Independence promises life, liberty, and happiness to every American citizen, yet the blacks face hardships when they ask for the fulfillment of their promised rights. The psalm Douglass chose to quote parallels to the situation of the blacks because both the blacks and the Israelites were denied something, by self-qualified superior, that was promised to them. The parallelism instates shame in the primarily Christian audience because their actions are comparable to the actions of a group of peoples who oppressed their religious predecessors. Next, Douglass’ repetition of “fellow citizens” illuminates Douglass’ belief that the blacks are not considered citizens in a catholic sense of the word. The word “fellow” is usually reserved for close friends or peers, which makes Douglass’ use of the word ironic since the blacks are considered inferior and barbaric. Douglass’ use of “fellow” either raises blacks to the same social level as whites or truncates the social level of whites. Moreover, Douglass’s fastidiously placed pun of “[the] conduct of this nation never looked blacker”, insults the audience because blacks are

Douglass states that “[blacks] are engaged in all the enterprises common to other men” such as “plowing, planting, and reaping…confessing and worshiping”. The comparison between blacks and whites supports his argument for black equality and justice because if blacks are doing the same activities as white men they both must be men. In addition, Douglass’ question, “Would you have me argue that men is entitled to liberty...You have already declared it” affirm the absurdity of the unequal treatment of blacks, since Douglass has proven that blacks are indeed people. The Declaration of Independence guarantees each and every American citizen liberty and is one of the founded principles of American society, therefore, not granting blacks equal rights goes against the nuts and bolts of America. Furthermore, Douglass uses impeccable logos to convince his audience blacks the equality and justice they so dearly desire. In his statement “There is not a man…who does not know slavery is wrong for him”, further illustrates that blacks are men. Douglass articulates that men know slavery is wrong for them and since blacks know slavery is wrong for them blacks must be more than simple animals or brutes. Moreover, Douglass introduces irony statement of “Is it that slavery is not divine…there is blasphemy in the thought”. His statement disagrees with his quote earlier in his jeremiad that God stands with the blacks and their