Rhetorical Questions In The Hypocrisy Of American Slavery

Many people when they hear the words “Fourth of July” they think about fireworks, cookouts, and sparklers! During the 1850’s it is a day that reminded many of the horrors and injustices in the world. On July 4, 1852 Frederick Douglass, a former American slave and an abolitionist leader, spoke in Rochester, New York about the affectation of celebrating independence. In his speech, “The Hypocrisy of American Slavery” he claims celebrating independence when there are slaves widespread is unethical. To convince the reader of his claim he uses rhetorical questions, word choice and antithesis in hopes to shed light and spark action on the wrongful situation.

First, Frederick Douglass uses rhetorical questions to address the listener with the social

First he says, “There is not a nation of the earth guilty of practices more shocking and bloody than are the people of these United States at this very hour” (para. 13). The words “shocking” and “bloody” have a negative affect and triggers the listener with a reminder of how wrong and unjust celebrating freedom is when there are still millions of slaves. Also he says, “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?” (para. 11). He displays all that is wrong and the prejudice that is happening. This allows for the audience to reflect and recognize the severity of the mistreatment they are given from white martinents. Lastly he says, “ But such is not the state of the case. I say it with a sad sense of disparity between us. I am not included within the pale of this glorious anniversary! Your high independence only reveals the immeasurable distance between us” (para. 3). Frederick Douglass expresses to the audience through the words “sad” and “disparity” the gap

Frederick Douglass says, “The sunlight that brought life and healing to you has brought stripes and death to me. This Fourth of July is yours not mine. You may rejoice, I must mourn” (Para. 3). As free men are celebrating, those that are or have been enslaved have to bare through the day of celebration. As more people realize what is being celebrated, those treated poorly will want to take action. He also says, “Fellow citizens, above your national, tumultuous day, I hear the mournful wail of millions, whose chains, heavy and grevious yesterday, are today rendered more intolerable by the jubilant shouts that reach them?” (para. 4). The audience will recognize they are celebrating freedom while there are still over four million slaves worldwide. This will fuel the listeners with anger that will motivate them to take action for the unjust treatment. Lastly he says, “To him your celebration is a sham; your boasted liberty an unholy license; your national greatness, and swelling vanity; your sounds of rejoicing are empty and heartless...are to him mere bombast, fraud, deception, impiety, and hypocrisy- a thin veil to cover up crimes which would disgrace a nation of savages” (para. 13). In conclusion, Frederick Douglass’s use of antithesis emphasizes the social difference between imperious white people to