On July Fifth, 1852, Frederick Douglass was invited to speak at an anti-slavery conference. As a well-established and eloquent speaker, Douglass took this opportunity to make a statement about abolition. By revealing the disparity between what principles institutions like American government and the American Church were founded on and what they had become through scathing irony, passionate ranting and logic, Douglass addresses the social injustice of slavery. He mocks the Fourth of July holiday and argues that the American ideals of freedom, equality and justice have not been bestowed on the public as the founding fathers had promised. “What to a Slave is the Fourth of July” is a challenge that dares Americans to strive to make the idea of…
In Frederick Douglass’s speech entitled What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?, he uses many different types of rhetorical strategies to get his points across to the crowd. Douglass, being an intelligent man, knew that using certain forms of rhetorical strategies would really help him encourage the crowd to think in the same manner as him. Douglass uses the many different forms of rhetorical strategies to successfully convey his point to the crowd, and by doing so it helped him make his point known from the beginning of the speech. One form of rhetorical strategies that Douglass uses well is pathos. Pathos, which is an appeal to emotion, is used frequently throughout the speech to help Douglass engross the crowd, and to get them to think…
Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln both not only serve as an inspiration to others, but are heroes who stood up to the injustices of the world. Frederick Douglass is a man who didn’t just sit around and wait for what was to happen; he did something. He not only faced the challenge of escaping slavery with all the risks that came with it, but spoke words of inspiration during anti-slavery meetings. Towards the end of Douglass’s Narrative, he expressed how he felt before speaking when he wrote “I felt myself a slave, and the idea of speaking to white people weighed me down.” (Douglass)…
In Frederick Douglass’s What to the Slave is the Fourth of July? he speaks from the slave’s point of view of celebrating the fourth of…
In his famous “Independence Day Speech” Frederick Douglass uses an assortment of rhetorical appeals, stylistic devices, and historical allusions to expose the American government and the populace for its hypocrisy of epic and historical proportions. Douglass discusses the century-old issue, and the fear Americans have in addressing the issue, often hiding behind different ideologies such as religion, the actions of their forefathers, or their superiority complex. His controversial speech paves the way for future abolitionists and civil rights movements. Even today the subject of slavery is a sensitive topic and Douglass gives a powerful perspective on the ideologies within the complex institution of slavery. Slavery left irreparable scars as…
Frederick wrote about his experiences of being a slave in many of his writings. In "What to the Slave is the Fourth of July", Douglass says, "The freedom gained is yours; and you, therefore, may properly celebrate this anniversary. The Fourth of July is the first great fact in your nation's history- the very ring-bolt in the chain of your yet undeveloped destiny" (Douglass,…
It was evident that Frederick Douglass, in his speech “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July," did not share the same joyous feelings as his nation did on that celebrated day in the 1800s due to his firm beliefs that America is filled with hypocritical leaders and citizens and thus deserves no adoration from him, a black man who escaped slavery, or from the people who share his ethnicity as well as his beliefs. According to Douglass, slaves cannot partake in this joyous celebration because it is a false celebration. Douglass touches on the fact that Americans claim all men are equal and yet it does not offer the same rights to a black man as it does to a white man. He therefore wrote his speech in a way that would encourage women to view the hypocrisy in America so that they may fight in favor of the slaves. Douglass’s text is effective in persuading his intended audience that although America has proclaimed it is a place filled with liberty and independence, not every one of its’ citizens can share the celebration on the Fourth of July because of its hypocritical standpoint and such argument is supported through Douglass’s use of rhetorical questions, tone, logos, and through…
This distinction can be seen as a central theme in the works of nearly all black political theorists as they attempt to explore the foundations and characteristics of African American political thought. One such author was Frederick Douglass, one of the most esteemed abolitionists and writers of his time, whose speech in 1852 entitled “What to the slave is the 4th of July?” exposed the hypocrisy of white citizen’s celebrations of their independence and freedom while denying the same rights to their slaves. Beyond just the issue of citizenship, this work exemplifies differences between the races that created and contributed to their conflicting political ideologies, namely the ways in which they identify with the nation and the values that each find significant enough to spur…
Fredrick Douglas: “The Hypocrisy of American Slavery” Former slave and advocate, Fredrick Douglas, in his famous speech, “The Hypocrisy of American Slavery communicates his thoughts and opinions on the celebrations of the 4th of July in the year of 1852. Douglas’ purpose is to convey to American slave owners that despite the 4th of July symbolizing freedom, many African Americans miss the chance to celebrate as they are trapped in the bounds of slavery. The theme of freedom and equality adequately appeals to the to the audience’s emotions through Douglas use of imagery and rhetorical questions. Douglas’s speech communicates an overall message of freedom and equality. His speech strongly addresses freedom as he communicates to American…
Frederick Douglass once stated that he “did not know [he] was a slave until [he] found out [he] couldn’t do the things [he] wanted” (2012). Slavery once held this man captive until he was able to escape and become “free.” Although he was able to do this, he still was never truly free, for he was a black man in America when the Fugitive Slave Act was still in place. He was asked to speak during a Fourth of July celebration held by the Rochester Ladies Anti-Slavery Society in 1852. Because it was a friendly audience, he used this platform in order to point out the irony of the holiday and sway people to become pro-abolition.…
Frederick Douglass speaks to the frustration caused by the distinction created between the idealistic and the real United States. He argues that this day is not applicable to the African American population because it celebrates white liberty rather than American liberty. The American identity created by the holiday divides the population of America and does not celebrate the whole country as…
“What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?” On July 4, 1852, Frederick Douglas delivered his “What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?” speech. At the time this speech was delivered, Douglas was merely an escaped slave who had been taught to read and write by his slave owner’s wife. He used his gift of literacy to fight for the God-given rights of both African-Americans and women. In “What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July,” Douglas cunningly uses bold diction and formatting in order to emphasize to his mostly white audience points of conviction concerning slaves.…
Frederick Douglass, who spent twenty one years of his life as a slave, devised the speech, What to the Slave is the Fourth of July. In his speech, he acknowledges many of his viewpoints of what he thinks about the Fourth of July, along with what the slaves think as a whole about the Fourth of July. At the beginning of the speech he welcomes the audience and asks many rhetorical questions. Douglass’s first paragraph is innocent enough. However, he plunges into his second paragraph with harsh words and questions that demand an answer.…
Frederick Douglass, a runaway slave and black abolitionist, delivered his speech, “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?” to emphasize the hypocrisy of Independence Day in America. Douglass’s purpose was to gain support from the group of people who have yet to choose one side or the other by pointing out the hypocrisy in the idea of freedom when only a fraction of Americans were truly free. He adopts a frustrated tone in order to convey to America, especially abolitionists, the mistreatments that slaves receive in the South and the lack of change. First, Douglass opens his speech by using rhetorical questions meant to make his listeners think about what the Fourth of July means to not only them but slaves as well.…
He urges the audience to fulfill what the country advocated by their founding fathers. He further condones the nation for their cruel hypocrisy. He states that “Your Fourth of July is a sham; your boasted liberty, an unholy license… Your shouts of liberty and equality, hollow mockery.” Douglass also uses his personal experience of enslavement to retort to the people who oppose the idea of abolition. He reasons by asking how could people allow to impose to others such a horrid condition that no one would impose on themselves?…