Frederick Douglass disapproves of the Fourth of July and its purposes and furthermore the new nation’s policies in regards to slavery.
In his speech, Frederick Douglass conveyed his ideas through slaves’ perspectives on the Fourth of July. He asserts that the Founding Fathers’ pursuance for freedom in America is hypocrisy and deceiving. He points out the contradiction between the Founding Fathers’ and the America’s want for permanent slavery, and the actual pursuits, dreams, ideas, and the meaning of freedom conveyed in the Declaration of Independence for the new nation. Frederick Douglass argues that the Fourth of July and the nation’s freedom cannot be celebrated because slavery and inequality still existed for the wrong economic good.
In the oration, Frederick Douglass supports his main opinion by saying, “…the gross injustice and cruelty to which he is the constant victim. To him, your celebration is a sham; your boasted liberty, an unholy license;…” He asserts that the Fourth of July is made to ironically celebrate America’s most shameful and revolting behavior towards slaves. He says that the Founding Fathers are using the Fourth of July to conceal the real problems that have not been solved and make it seem like nothing, which is absurd. He emphasizes the truth that the entire population of slaves was not freed and respected as a human being yet, opposite to what the Declaration of Independence pursued.
In Frederick Douglass’s speech, rhetoric choices were made to emphasize the adverse effects the Founding Fathers’ decisions on continuing slavery and unfairness will bring. For example, he says, “But, while the river may not be turned aside, it may dry up, and leave nothing behind but the withered branch… the sad tale of departed glory.” This quote shows how our desires written in the Declaration of Independence will dry up; in other words, become nothing if we keep this pace.
Douglass, along with the entire enslaved population, denies independence and the possession of the Fourth of July.
