Frederick Douglass was an African American abolitionist, who fought to end slavery after he escaped slavery in Maryland. He became a national leader against slavery, whose writing still inspires people today. In a letter written to the Rochester Ladies Anti-Slavery Society, Douglas questions why they are celebrating freedom on Independece Day whilst there are still people enslaved in America. He uses logical reasoning, diction, and syntax to assert his argument. In his letter, Douglass supports his claim using insightful evidence. He appeals to his audience’s sense of political freedom and justice. He also lets it be known how the U.S. are helping other countries to acquire their freedom, however are not helping people in their own country gain freedom. Douglass states, “You hurl your threats at tyrants in Russia and Austria and pride yourselves on your Democratic institutions, while you consent to the more tools and bodyguards of the tyrants of Virgin and Carolina.” The letter shows how the government threatens other countries who envoke terror on others, yet they are not doing anything about the ones in their own states who do the same. He also implies how they allow immigrants into the country with hospitality, but will not help the “fugitives' ' in their own country and instead “advertise, bunt, arrest, shoot, and …show more content…
He uses words such as, “hideous” and “revolting” to show how America’s past promises of all men are equal and present actions of slavery are both repulsive and disgusting. In one example, he stated “a day that reveals to him the gross injustice and cruelty to which he is the constant victim”. The words “injustice” and “cruelty” reveals how slaves are treated in the country and on the 4th of July it is divulged to them that they are “the constant victim”. Douglass additionally utilizes sentence structure to improve the quality of his
Frederick Douglass, a former slave, was one of the greatest public speakers for the abolitionist cause. He was called upon to speak on July 5, 1852, at the Rochester, New York Ladies’ Anti-Slavery Society, and gave his famous speech, “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July”. Douglass explains how Independence Day is supposed to be a joyous holiday for Americans, however it is more like mockery to African-Americans because, regardless of being freed slaves, they still do not have the freedoms they deserve. Douglass uses different rhetorical strategies to convey his message and emotions to his audience, including biblical allusions. Douglass ends his speech by demonstrating a sense of hope just after painting a very dark picture of reality
He reminds the audience that, in 1776, many colonists thought it was seditious and dangerous to revolt against the British crown. In 1852, however, he says to say "that America was right, and England wrong, is exceedingly easy.” In the same sense in his time, people consider abolitionism and dangerous and seditious political stance, but like the rebellious subjects, that we now call heroes, he wants to go against what people say for the good of the country. Douglass stays that future generations will consider his anti-slavery stance “patriotic, just, and reasonable” as we think now how the Revolution’s leaders were. To celebrate the white man's freedom from oppression is "inhuman mockery and sacrilegious irony" as African Americans are not free and still oppressed by other white Americans; a defilement of American ideals held in the Declaration: democracy, freedom, and equal rights.
Douglass' speeches aim to awaken his audience's conscience and urge them to take action against the institution of slavery. My
This shows that he knows they wanted him to speak, knowing that he is not entitled to the freedom and justice in the Declaration. He feels as though they meant to ridicule him. A man without freedom in America speaking at a celebration of the freedom of America? Douglass continues into his speech with more intensity and accusation. He asks, “On what branch of the subject do the people of this country need light?
One of the most confrontational ways he does this is by declaring, “America is false to the past, false to the present, and solemnly binds herself to be false to the future” (2). This statement not only attacks America in its current state, but also condemns past America. Douglass uses this sentence to once again reject the celebration of the birth of a country whose values have and always will be built on hypocrisy. The repetition in this declaration brings attention to the word ‘false’, Douglass uses this word on purpose to harshly point out the fallacies America is built on. Douglass continues to point out hypocrisy in many aspects of American life.
Douglass establishes his credibility and authority on the issue of slavery and inequality in the United States by drawing on his own experience and expertise. He begins the speech by introducing himself as a former slave and expressing his sadness and disappointment at the Fourth of July festivities which celebrate the nation’s independence while ignoring the ongoing oppression of African Americans. He says, “I am not included within the pale of this glorious anniversary! Your high independence only reveals the immeasurable distance between us.” By acknowledging his own identity as a former slave, Douglass gives himself immediate credibility on the issue of slavery and inequality.
Furthermore, Douglass expands referring to the slave, “your celebration is a sham; your boasted liberty, an unholy license; your national greatness, swelling vanity…a thin veil to cover up crimes which would disgrace a nation of savages” (Dilbeck, 2009, para. 6). In which history proves his acclamation in that Douglass himself had to endure through the blazing sun working as a slave and the adversity of oppression, before his exile from slavery. On the account of for the slave the 4th of July was not a great day, rather they prayed for deliverance from their burden and live the American Dream that for them not the even the scintilla of a gleaming hope was visible at that time. To the slave was the beginning of their suffering, a celebration
“What to a Slave is the Fourth of July” by Fredrick Douglass is a speech that was delivered to a crowd in Corinthian Hall on July 5th, 1852. Frederick Douglass was a very influential abolitionist, using his influence and way with words he delivered a very significant message illustrating how even though the Fourth of July has great importance to many, it still serves as a harsh reminder for many unfair and unjust things going on to enslaved people, through his speech he uses many different historical events to help convey his message and prove how he is correct in the matter, many of these points are even still applicable in the U.S today. Throughout the speech Douglass shows his distaste towards the United States. The country that advocates
“With them, justice, liberty and humanity were “final”; not slavery and oppression.” This relates to the hardships and the fact that the people don’t recognize how terrible it is. And that these meanings of these “free” words mean something else to him and other slaves. He shows that the changes are hard but once they are made everything will be peaceful. Rhetorical features and strategies are Douglass’ forte’ in engaging with the audience.
At last, Douglass brings the point of freedom and justice the one person has every right to him than any other, and no man has the authority to rule over
All the terrible and inhuman things that Douglass describes are the practical and usual things that happened in his time, they are not extraordinary. His true stories and multiple details from his life give the reader an idea about the effects of slavery on the life of different people in the
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.
One of the strategies Douglass uses to convince his audience slavery should be abolished is by “calling out American hypocrisy in his Fourth of July oration” (Mercieca 1). He shames them with no remorse. He speaks on the opposite treatments that enable whites to live in a state of freedom and liberty, while the blacks are living in a state of bondage. As the audience listens, he reminds them, there are men, women and children still held hostages to the chains of
Douglass begins his letter with his intent, an elaborate and formal appeal to Douglass’ real audience: readers of the North Star to bring forth the atrocities caused not only by Auld but by slavery as a whole. Throughout the letter, Douglass refers to his treatment by Auld; further driving his point that slavery is terrible and that slaves deserve the same basic rights as those who own slaves. Douglass is quick to speak about his own experience as an escaped slave and his success outside of Auld’s ownership to help solidify that point further. Douglass occasionally does this specifically to belittle and call forward Auld’s actions, even referring to himself as more intelligent (Douglass 102). Throughout the letter, Douglass’ common theme is one of anti-slavery and often directly attacks Auld’s actions.
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