“What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?” by Frederick Douglass is not only a

by Caaltu · May 20, 2024

“What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?” by Frederick Douglass is not only a brilliant work of oratory. It speaks to our every frustration spurred by the gap between the ideals of the United States and the reality we witness every day; between the Bill of Rights and our decaying civil liberties; between the USA’s international declarations of human rights and the ordered drone attacks backed by presidential “kill lists”; between the words “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” and a nation that leads the world in jailing its own citizens; between our highest ideals and our darkest realities. Even though his were words that spoke directly to his moment in history, they still ring with an unsettling power. As Douglass says: “Had I the ability, and could I reach the nation’s ear, I would today pour out a fiery stream of biting ridicule, blasting reproach, withering sarcasm, and stern rebuke. For it is not light that is needed, but fire; it is not the gentle shower, but thunder. We need the storm, the whirlwind, and the earthquake.”
What to the Slave is the Fourth July (Full Speech)
‘What To The Slave Is The Fourth Of July?’ Frederick Douglass, Revisited
For your assignment, you will need to read the full speech made by Douglas and the article from NPR on the continued relevance of the speech. Once you have finished reading, answer the following questions:
What are Douglass’s objections to celebrating the Fourth of July? What did he mean when he said, “Your high independence only reveals the immeasurable distance between us?
Do you agree or disagree with Douglass’s statement that “there is not a nation on the earth guilty of practices more shocking and bloody than are the people of the United States, at this very hour”? Explain. What other injustices were going on in the United States in the first half of the nineteenth century that could further justify Douglass’s statement?
In what ways do you think that the speech continues to be relevant today? Explain.
Rubric:20 points total
Make sure to provide details and specific examples from the Declaration of Sentiments and other sources used.
All sources must be cited properly.
1-2 sentence responses will not be enough for the maximum amount of points.
300-word minimum for assignment.
5 points deducted for submitting late.
Points deducted for skipping questions. Points also deducted for grammar errors and excessive plagiarism (over 50% on the similarity score from Turnitin). AI scores over 50% will receive zero points.
No need to rewrite questions on submission.
No Mac Pages, only doc files or pdf accepted.