Blog #16

Frederick Douglass

Douglass questions whether the freedom written in the Declaration of Independence extends to black people. He does not feel that black people are a part of the Fourth of July since they do not enjoy the independence that white men enjoy. Douglass says that the freedom that is being celebrated shows the disparity between whites and blacks, since everything that is celebrated, blacks don't have ("This Fourth of July is yours, not mine."). He goes so far as to say he is being mocked by being asked to speak during a time when independence is celebrated. He then discusses how wrong slavery is, since it robs men of their liberty. He continues, saying that to the American slave, the Fourth of July is a day that reveals the injustice and cruelty they are subject to. He goes to an extreme, saying there is not  nation on Earth guilty of worse practices than America is at this time.

An image depicting the Seneca Falls Convention

This speech is similar to the Seneca Falls Convention, since like Douglass, the women at the convention are speaking out against injustices they experience from white men in society.