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When none on earth In their admiration of liberty, they lost sight of all other interests. Neither group had any idea what would be going on when they happened by and I was truly heartened that both groups seemed to be intrigued and listening closely. ', But such is not the state of the case. No nation can now shut itself up from the surrounding world, and trot round in the same old path of its fathers without interference. He engages the listeners emotionally by stating his opinion over the topic of slavery. In an 1868 speech, he said, No man should be excluded from the government on the basis of his color, no woman on account of her sex. I am not included within the pale of glorious anniversary! They were quiet men; but they did not shrink from agitating against oppression. Is it that slavery is not divine; that God did not establish it; that our doctors of divinity are mistaken? For those who feel that way, July 5 may be an easier day to celebrate: on that day in 1827, 4,000 African Americans paraded down Broadway in New York City to celebrate the end of slavery in their state. For it is not light that is needed, but fire; it is not the gentle shower, but thunder. The sunlight that brought light and healing to you, has brought stripes and death to me. Were not only going to be reading books like White Fragility, and Divided by Faith, but were also going to read and watch a number of speeches by Martin Luther King Jr., and documentaries like 13th and King in the Wilderness, as we try to get at the root of racial division so we can come together to remove it. In this speech, he called out the "hypocrisy of the nation" (Douglass), questioning the nation's . there is no matter in respect to which, the people of the North have allowed themselves to be so ruinously imposed upon, as that of the pro-slavery character of the Constitution. According to this fact, you are, even now, only in the beginning of your national career, still lingering in the period of childhood. It was a scathing speech in which Douglass stated, This Fourth of July is yours, not mine, You may rejoice, I must mourn., In his speech, Douglassacknowledgedthe Founding Fathers of America, the architects of the Declaration of Independence, for their commitment to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness:, Fellow Citizens, I am not wanting in respect for the fathers of this republic. The point from which I am compelled to view them is not, certainly, the most favorable; and yet I cannot contemplate their great deeds with less than admiration. For more information on this event visit CharlesHamiltonHouston.org. I doubt even Douglass could have anticipated the technology we have or its uses. That which is inhuman, cannot be divine! David Harris: Douglass was known for his oratory and this speech is no exception. They were great men toogreat enough to give fame to a great age. The most famous speech of the orator's career, it marked a departure from his mentor, Boston abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison.In it, Douglass expressed his desire to participate in the political life of the nation, while the more radical . We convened a group of interested parties, met a few times over a couple of months, and decided to launch an event on the Common. But it is answered in reply to all this, that precisely what I have now denounced is, in fact, guaranteed and sanctioned by the Constitution of the United States; that the right to hold and to hunt slaves is a part of that Constitution framed by the illustrious Fathers of this Republic. Douglass speech also foreshadowed the bloody reckoning to come: Civil War. that he is the rightful owner of his own body? When the Ladies Anti-Slavery Society of Rochester, N.Y., invited Douglass to give a July 4 speech in 1852, Douglass opted to speak on July 5 instead. Can you tell me about the origins of the Reading Frederick Douglas Together project? For the present, it is enough to affirm the equal manhood of the Negro race. His message was well-received because they believed in what he was standing up for. See answers Advertisement bhawsarsakshi4 How circumspect, exact and proportionate were all their movements! "For it is not light that is needed, but fire; it is not the gentle shower, but thunder," he said. The Compromise of 1850 had failed to resolve the controversy over the admission of new slaveholding states to the Union. Were the nation older, the patriots heart might be sadder, and the reformers brow heavier. No abuse, no outrage whether in taste, sport or avarice, can now hide itself from the all-pervading light. The slaveholders themselves acknowledge it in the enactment of laws for their government. This year we mark both the 400th anniversary of the arrival of captive Africans to the British colonies and the 65th anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education. Oh! Africa must rise and put on her yet unwoven garment. How can we sing the Lord's song in a strange land? The above audio (11:35) can be used with the following section of Frederick Douglass's speech. 3 Lessons From Frederick Douglass About Finding the Courage to Speak Up Although primarily remembered for pointing out the hypocrisy of Independence Day in a nation that condoned the enslavement of millions of people, the speech also includes an interesting passage on the impact of globalization. Throughout this speech, as well as his life, Douglass advocated equal justice and rights, as well as citizenship, for blacks. I am not included within the pale of glorious anniversary! Frederick Douglass - Frederick Douglass National Historic Site (U.S It makes its pathway over and under the sea, as well as on the earth. For it is not light that is needed, but fire; it is not the gentle shower, but thunder, he said. Allow me to say, in conclusion, notwithstanding the dark picture I have this day presented of the state of the nation, I do not despair of this country. Fellow-citizens, above your national, tumultuous joy, I hear the mournful wail of millions! It is a slander upon their memory, at least, so I believe. 'It should be here in Rochester.' Fundraising underway for Frederick Why does he do this? Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our, Digital The arm of commerce has borne away the gates of the strong city. Douglass presented this speech to an antislavery societyan audience that was already on his side. Write to Olivia B. Waxman at olivia.waxman@time.com. A black-and-white photograph of Frederick Douglass wearing a jacket, waistcoat, and bowtie. Douglass message about America struggling to live up to the lofty goals it set for itself at the founding continues to be relevant, says Blight. And never from my chosen post, She can speak not only to Douglass' historical importance but to the urgency and relevancy of his message in today's . GAZETTE: What is something you have discovered about Douglass while researching this speech and his work more broadly that people might be surprised to learn? Douglass's speech emphasized that American slavery and American freedom is a shared history and that the actions of ordinary men and women, demanding freedom, transformed our nation. What is the main message of Douglass's speech? | Similar Answers Standing with God and the crushed and bleeding slave on this occasion, I will, in the name of humanity which is outraged, in the name of liberty which is fettered, in the name of the constitution and the Bible which are disregarded and trampled upon, dare to call in question and to denounce, with all the emphasis I can command, everything that serves to perpetuate slavery the great sin and shame of America! In Douglasss honor, wed like to share an abridged version of his speech now considered one of the greatest in US history. This Fourth July is yours, not mine. Writing before slaves were freed in the United States, Douglass' main objective in the Narrative is to dispel any notion that slavery is good for those enslaved. God speed the day when human bloodShall cease to flow!In every clime be understood,The claims of human brotherhood,And each return for evil, good,Not blow for blow;That day will come all feuds to end.And change into a faithful friendEach foe. What, to the American slave, is your 4th of July? They were great in their day and generation. Be warned! Crowd of men and women during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, Washington, D.C., Aug.28, 1963, Get the latest information about timed passes and tips for planning your visit, Search the collection and explore our exhibitions, centers, and digital initiatives, Online resources for educators, students, and families, Engage with us and support the Museum from wherever you are, Find our upcoming and past public and educational programs, Learn more about the Museum and view recent news, National Archives and Records Administration, Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. You have already declared it. Politics latest updates: NHS 'on the brink' says nursing union; 10% Has the public reading of the speech each year on Boston Commonor the experience or meaning of itchanged over the years? What have I, or those I represent, to do with your national independence? And let me warn you that it is dangerous to copy the example of a nation whose crimes, towering up to heaven, were thrown down by the breath of the Almighty, burying that nation in irrevocable ruin! In the second part of the speech, Douglass turns to the present and his own feelings about the 4th of July celebration. Who can reason on such a proposition? In the fervent aspirations of William Lloyd Garrison, I say, and let every heart join in saying it: God speed the year of jubilee He begins his speech by modestly apologizing for being nervous in front of the crowd and recognizes that he has come a long way since his escape from slavery. I attended in 2008 and was deeply moved by the experience. That first year, 2009, was also President Obamas first year in office. We need the storm, the whirlwind, and the earthquake., Get your history fix in one place: sign up for the weekly TIME History newsletter. And the contradiction of Americas just ideals and unjust realities endures, too. Who so stolid and selfish, that would not give his voice to swell the hallelujahs of a nations jubilee, when the chains of servitude had been torn from his limbs? Douglass repeatedly uses the pronouns you and your (rather than our and ours) throughout this section. At the time of the delivery of this speech, Douglass had been living in Rochester, New York for several years editing a weekly abolitionist newspaper. This year is pretty challenging in the wake of COVID-19, and the event is going to be held online instead of before a live audience like we did last year. My subject, then fellow citizens, says Douglass, is American slavery. He brings that subject to life in vivid and sometimes horrifying terms, Standing, as he says, with God and the crushed and bleeding slave on this occasion. The effect is undeniable and its implications inescapable: the contradiction between the celebration and the bondage it masks demands action. So its important that our city and our society are outraged by the recent murders of unarmed black people. Great streams are not easily turned from channels, worn deep in the course of ages. GAZETTE: Why is it important to do this kind of community-building work at a local level? It was one of five autobiographies he penned,. Our ability to communicate has led to much greater organizing and mobilization. We may finally be thinking about creating a commission to study the possibility of reparationsas with all deliberate speed, the American way of tackling a problem takes so much time and patienceand for this we can be thankful. Frederick Douglass, Fifth of July speech (1852) I have better employments for my time and strength. What characteristics does he praise about them? By equal birth! and am I, therefore, called upon to bring our humble offering to the national altar, and to confess the benefits and express devout gratitude for the blessings resulting from your independence to us? Nobody doubts it. The new rules are part of a government plan to crack . Douglasss searing ability to cut through the rhetoric of freedom and democracy lives on in works like these that reveal the enduring cruelty of the exemption as it continues to haunt our flawed legal and punishment systems. Frederick Douglass, "What the Black Man Wants" The freedom gained is yours; and you, therefore, may properly celebrate this anniversary. It is, he declares, the birthday of your National Independence, and of your political freedom.. He was invited to give a fourth of July speech by the Ladies Anti-Slavery Society of Rochester. But, he said, speaking more than a decade before slavery was ended nationally, a lot of work still needed to be done so that all citizens can enjoy life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Above your national, tumultuous joy the July 4th celebrations of white Americans were the mournful wails of millions whose heavy chains are, today, rendered more intolerable by the jubilee shouts that reach them.. Within twenty years Douglass was the one of the most famous men in the United Statesauthor of two widely read memoirs and an orator who commanded among the highest speaking fees in the nation. We need individual events like reading Douglass, but we also need to be thinking about ways to extend this conversation over the long term. It seems that every year we have marked some anniversary with the reading, whether civil rights movement or Civil War related. On the other hand it will be found to contain principles and purposes, entirely hostile to the existence of slavery. I can to-day take up the plaintive lament of a peeled and woe-smitten people! He implored the Rochester, N.Y., audience to think about the ongoing oppression of Black Americans during a holiday celebrating freedom. He implored the Rochester, N.Y., audience to think about the ongoing oppression of Black Americans during a holiday celebrating freedom. Their solid manhood stands out the more as we contrast it with these degenerate times. He further says, the Constitution, in its words, is plain and intelligible, and is meant for the home-bred, unsophisticated understandings of our fellow-citizens. Its an extraordinary political moment.. I am not included within the pale of glorious anniversary! The blessings in which you, this day, rejoice, are not enjoyed in common. Your fathers were wise men, and if they did not go mad, they became restive under this treatment. Two readings, 165 years apart, addressed to a nation at a precarious political moment. To drag a man in fetters into the grand illuminated temple of liberty, and call upon him to join you in joyous anthems, were inhuman mockery and sacrilegious irony. That annihilation of space has allowed for real time reporting of events, which in turn has led to considerable change around the world. In the early 1850s, tensions over slavery were high across the county. The 4th of July is the first great fact in your nations historythe very ring-bolt in the chain of your yet undeveloped destiny. Seventy-six years, though a good old age for a man, is but a mere speck in the life of a nation. It gave me such a surge of hope that the event could bring together such divergent groups. There is hope in the thought, and hope is much needed, under the dark clouds which lower above the horizon. This, to you, is what the Passover was to the emancipated people of God. Your high independence only reveals the immeasurable distance between us. They seized upon eternal principles, and set a glorious example in their defense. Douglass's own sons, Lewis and Charles, became two of the first to volunteer for the 54th, which ultimately comprised more than 1,000 men from 15 Northern states. Douglass continued to add to the speech in the years that followed. Would you argue more, and denounce less; would you persuade more, and rebuke less; your cause would be much more likely to succeed." I am also hosting a summer reading and discussion series called Race, Fragility, and Anti-Racism through the Somerville Museum and the City on a Hill network of local churches. And each return for evil, good, There is consolation in the thought that America is young. The principles contained in that instrument are saving principles. So while the U.S. tends to go all out celebrating freedom on the Fourth of July, alternate independence commemorations held a day later often draw attention to a different side of that story, with readings of the Frederick Douglass speech best known today as What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?. The existence of slavery in this country brands your republicanism as a sham, your humanity as a base pretense, and your Christianity as a lie. Like brutes no more. In the orations most famous passages, Douglass discussed what it felt like to see such festivities and to know independence was not a given for people like him: What have I, or those I represent, to do with your national independence? Are the great principles of political freedom and of natural justice, embodied in that Declaration of Independence, extended to us? The story of most nations is difficult to catalogue. Frederick Douglass - Narrative, Quotes & Facts | HISTORY Douglass's voluminous writings and speeches reveal a man who believed fiercely in the ideals on which America was founded, but understoodwith the scars to prove itthat democracy would . Standing there identified with the American bondman, making his wrongs mine, I do not hesitate to declare, with all my soul, that the character and conduct of this nation never looked blacker to me than on this 4th of July! what is the main message of douglass's speech? Addressing an audience of about 600 at the newly constructed Corinthian Hall, he started out by acknowledging that the signers of the Declaration of Independence were brave and great men, and that the way they wanted the Republic to look was in the right spirit. The blessings in which you, this day, rejoice, are not enjoyed in common. Both critiques seek true fidelity to those principles we fail to keep. There are forces in operation, which must inevitably work the downfall of slavery. It is actually quite longwe use an abridged version for our readingsbut despite its length it is at once riveting and concise. ': The History of Frederick Douglass' Searing Independence Day Oration. It saps the foundation of religion; it makes your name a hissing, and a byword to a mocking earth. The fact of slavery ruins the celebrations of the Fourth of July. Space is comparatively annihilated. I answer; a day that reveals to him, more than all other days in the year, the gross injustice and cruelty to which he is the constant victim. [Throughout the speech] Douglass looks at the contradictions between the reality of slavery and the lofty claims of a just society outlined in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. In Douglass' speech, his tone mainly appeals to emotions. What, to the American slave, is your Fourth of July? But, I submit, where all is plain there is nothing to be argued. What is the main message of Douglass's speech?