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Frederick Douglas Address America

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“What Does America’s Fourth of July Mean to Me” The speech given by Mr. Frederick Douglas at the Corinthian Hall in Rochester, New York gives 5 reasons why Mr. Douglas believes that the Fourth of July does not apply to him or any slaves. Mr. Douglas was an escaped slave who did not receive a formal education but was self-taught. During his time he was to slavery what Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X were to the Civil Rights movement. The voice of reason and hope, he was invited to speak before different audience where he expressed the true feelings of the slaves and called into question and convicted the beliefs of the slave owners.
Mr. Douglas believed that the Fourth of July did not apply to the slaves or himself because; 1) It is more important to the white people, but a mockery to the black people 2) It gives a conflicting feeling because slaves had no freedom. 3) The slave is acknowledged as a man by the government in only in the punishments given for their crimes 4) The wrongfulness of slavery is so strong that if any man be asked if it is wrong, he would say yes 5) The Fourth of July is hypocritical because it is a celebration of freedom, but there is still the evil and inequality of slavery
The lingering attitudes are still present today; we have a Declaration of Independence that is founded on principles of slavery that still does not apply to us. The U. S. Constitution while it has amendments that provide provisions for African-Americans as well as other minority is still not applied equally. For example how we are treated by the criminal justice system, police brutality, high mass incarceration rates and the length of our sentencing as well as the severity of punishment. The disparity in our access to equal and adequate resources for education, job training and healthcare are also proof that Mr. Douglas’s sentiment still lingers.

Mr. Douglas being a self –taught man spoke with such passion and clarity that one would not know that he did not receive a formal education. For him to get up and address the audience with such transparency, honesty and conviction took a lot of chutzpah. He was honest in the expression of his feelings as well as the sentiments of those slaves that he spoke to represent. In a sense Mr. Douglas actually scolded and walked the floor with the audience in his speech. When questioned rhetorically, “what was the real purpose for them asking him to speak?” Mr. Douglas challenged their thinking by chastising the audience using a common thread their faith. Mr. Douglas asserted that the God he read about and believed in would not want or uphold slavery. He stated his case very emphatically urging the people to reflect and acknowledge the truth that the country was still young enough to revise its history and right their wrong so that they could truly move forward as a nation. I believe that now is the time to speak up, we have a group of people who alleged that they want to “reclaim their country” and “make America great again.” These people are referring to a time in our nation’s history where inequality was prevalent. A time before the Civil Rights Movement, where separate but equal was the social norm. These people have been upset since President Obama’s first inauguration and the intensity and hatred has picked up. From the hate speech spewed at current campaign events, to the actions taken to try and disenfranchise the black vote such as the closing of DMVs in black belt counties in Alabama or the purging of voters roles during the last election and most recently the treatment of minorities and religious groups in this country. I believe that some in our country are more than willing to go backward from the progress that we have made in order to keep the status quo and ruling elite “wealthy white males” in power. While we have made strides and advancements systemic oppression is still prevalent in our society. The ruling class is feeling threatened that is why there has been an increase in the language used to express their true feelings.

I believe the closest orator that we have had to Frederick Douglas is Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He was able use his platform of non- violence to engage and unite people across races to effectively mobilize and bring about change using peaceful methods. He was both revered and hated by political elite and everyday citizens as well as his fellow clergy. People bought into his philosophy and he was able to positively effect change and bring about a transformational movement. I think the next prolific orator would be Malcolm X, followed by President Barack Obama and Rev. Jesse Jackson. President Obama’s message of change and hope was able to reignite the fire and mobilize people to be the change that they wanted to see.

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