Frederick Douglass's “What To The Slave Is The Fourth Of Jul

Frederick Douglass's “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?”

Frederick Douglass delivered his powerful speech titled “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?” on July 4, 1852, in Rochester, New York, a hub of reform activity in antebellum America. The speech is a vehement critique of American hypocrisy regarding liberty and justice, emphasizing the stark contrast between the nation’s celebrations of independence and the ongoing brutal realities of slavery. Douglass begins by questioning the appropriateness of being asked to celebrate independence when the principles of liberty and equality have not been extended to enslaved African Americans.

He underscores the disparity between the ideals proclaimed in the Declaration of Independence and the lived experiences of enslaved people, highlighting that the blessings of freedom and justice are not shared by them. Douglass vividly describes the irony and cruelty of celebrating freedom while millions are in chains, urging his audience to recognize the moral outrage of such hypocrisy. He draws upon biblical imagery, referencing the Israelites' captivity in Babylon, to evoke empathy and underline the moral stain on the nation that continues to rely on slavery.

Core to Douglass’s critique is his assertion that enslaved African Americans are fully human—moral, intellectual, and responsible beings—contradicting the racist stereotypes and legal statutes that seek to dehumanize and suppress them. He points out the laws that criminalize their literacy and treat them as property rather than persons. Douglass also emphasizes their participation in all aspects of society: working, reading, writing, practicing religion, and living as families—yet they are denied basic human rights like liberty and self-determination.

In a rhetorical stance that combines fiery language with moral outrage, Douglass refuses to argue the obvious moral wrongs of slavery, asserting that the truth is self-evident: slavery is inherently wrong and sinful. Instead of long arguments, he calls for moral emotion—irony, sarcasm, and stern rebuke—to awaken the conscience of the nation. Douglass criticizes the nation’s leaders and citizens for their complicity and hypocrisy, condemning slavery as a profound national sin.

He vividly describes how the celebration of independence is a farce for enslaved people who see their suffering ignored amid patriotic fervor. Douglass depicts the Fourth of July as a day that exposes the deep injustice and cruelty inflicted upon enslaved African Americans, contrasting the nation's outward display of liberty with its internal brutality. His speech frames American hypocrisy as unparalleled, equating it with barbarism and shamelessness.

In conclusion, Douglas’s speech is a rallying cry for moral awakening and justice. He implores Americans to recognize the horrors of slavery and the falsehood of their patriotic celebrations. The speech remains a seminal condemnation of racial injustice and an enduring call for equality and human dignity, illustrating that the struggle for freedom and justice persists beyond political independence.

References

• Blight, D. W. (2010). Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom. Simon & Schuster.
• Foner, E. (2014). Gateway to Freedom: The Hidden History of the Underground Railroad. W. W. Norton & Company.
• McPherson, J. M. (1995). Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era. Oxford University Press.
• Foreman, J. (2012). Frederick Douglass: The Fight for Freedom. Abrams Books.
• Douglass, F. (1993). Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave. Sinauer Associates.
• Garrison, W. L. (1831). The Liberator, First Issue, January 1.
• Berlin, I. (2003). Many Thousands Gone: The First Two Centuries of Slavery in America. Harvard University Press.
• Taber, H. (1998). The Roots of American Racism: The Making of an Underdeveloped Nation. ISI Books.
• Newman, R. (2010). The Political Thought of Frederick Douglass. Cambridge University Press.
• Douglass, F. (2000). What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July? (Online Parallel Text).