LAD/Blog #17: Frederick Douglass' "5th of July" speech

This speech was ironically given on America's Independence Day- the 4th of July. A day to celebrate our freedom, our rights, our independent nation. However, Frederick Douglass makes this speech because he does not have anything to celebrate. He talks about slaves and blacks and how rights that white American have the luxury of having, exclude African Americans. He does not come out and just say this however. He asks the audience if the rights extend to African Americans. He says he would be so happy and would have something to celebrate on the 4th of July if so. He asks why he was invited to speak. He asks if he was called in so that the White people could mock him. He knows how terrible African Americans are treated. He knows how little respect, worth, and rights, if any, they are given. He intends to use his power in his speeches to bring about the realization of these truths, and to ultimately make a change.