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What Are Frederick Douglass Idea Of Humanity

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Throughout history there have been few important black civil rights activist. Arguably one of the most important leaders named Frederick Douglass was born into slavery, in February 1818. Douglas wrote many pieces of literature, but he only wrote one fictional story, The Heroic Slave in 1853. This story is based loosely off of real people and actual events in Frederick's life. In the modern world all people are considered equal by law, back in the slavery era the idea that blacks were equivalent to whites was constantly questioned. Frederick Douglass’ idea of humanity is that all people should be treated equal despite ethnicity or physical appearance.
The relationship between Madison Washington and Mr. Listwell shows Frederick’s ideology on Humanity. Mr. Listwell is Washington’s owner, but unlike many slave owners he sets his slaves free. Mr. Listwell liberating Washington helps show that Douglass believes blacks should be free like whites. Also when Mr. Listwell sees Washington get enslaved again he is shocked. Once Mr. Listwell discovers that Madison was caught trying to free his wife who was a slave, …show more content…

On the 4th of July, independence day, Douglass gave a speech still remembered to this day. His famous, "What to the Slave is 4th of July?" lecture address slavery and why it is contradicting America’s roots and beliefs; equality, freedom, and democracy. This shows Douglass’ views on humanity, all blacks are human and should be treated equal. This is shown by the countless arguments against slavery he delivers during his speech. Feredick states that his main point of his speech is how America is being untrue to their founding principles, by treating blacks like they are not real humans. Douglass concludes with an optimistic note saying eventually anti-slavery will triumph over pro-slavery. This helps further deepen his point that blacks deserve freedom because they are humans just like

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In 1776, on July 4th, the 13 English colonies officially declared their freedom from England. However, as the years progressed, slavery became incorporated into everyday American life. In 1852, former slave Frederick Douglass gave a speech to celebrate America’s independence; however, instead of praising the country, he censured Americans for saying they were a “country of the free”. In the speech, Hypocrisy of American Slavery, Frederick Douglass declares that Americans should not be celebrating their freedom when there are slaves living in the country. To convince his audience that Americans are wrong celebrating freedom on the 4th of July when slavery exists in their country, he uses emotional appeal, ethical appeal, and rhetorical questions.

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Frederick Douglass, born a slave and later the most influential African American leader of the 1800s, addresses the hypocrisy of the US of maintaining slavery with its upheld ideals being freedom and independence on July 4th, 1852. Douglass builds his argument by using surprising contrasts, plain facts, and provocative antithesis. Introducing his subject, Douglass reminds his audience about the dark side of America for slaves, in sharp, surprising contrasts with the apparent progressivity within the nation. He first notices “the disparity,” that “the sunlight that brought life and healing to you, has brought stripes and deaths to me,” as an African-American former slave. It is surprising for the audience to hear that the Sun does not bring him any prosperity, that the Sun, the source of life on earth, brings him destruction.

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Throughout Douglass's speech, he exceeds expectations by adding excellent examples of ethos, pathos, and unique tone. These examples help the audience see his viewpoints and helps him connect with them. The literary devices used in his speech “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?”, aided in his fight against

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He declares, “to forget them [the slaves], to pass lightly over their wrongs and to chime in with the popular theme would be treason most scandalous and shocking, and would make me a reproach before God and the world,” (para. 5). He discusses that slavery is unjust, and says that celebrating freedom with slavery would be treason. This helps the audience realize that celebrating freedom in their country is not a peccadillo, and they naturally will try to right the wrong because of their moral instincts by stopping their celebration. He also says, “to him your celebration is a sham; your boasted liberty an unholy license; your national greatness, swelling vanity; your sounds of rejoicing are empty and heartless; your shouts of liberty and equality, hollow mock; your prayers and hymns, your sermons and thanksgivings, with all your religious parade and solemnity, 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. 15). In this quote, Douglass says that celebrating liberty is covering up a crime: slavery.

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What To The Slave Is The Fourth Of July Essay

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Frederick Douglass was a great writer, but he wasn’t always. He was an escaped slave who used that in his speeches as a topic to gain the attention of his audience. His audience was a seemingly sympathetic one and got to them through rhetorical questions. Douglass wanted to convey the message that there are many changes that need to be made.

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