FREDRICK DOUGLAS

The Hypocrisy of Human slavery

Born a slave in Maryland, Douglas escaped in 1838 and earned widespread acclaim for his 1845 autobiography

He was the most influential African American leader of the 1800s.

Usually a slavery speech is about how someone overcame something but in his he often complains about his past and how it shouldn’t be forgotten.

Also rhetorical questions are numerously used

Rhetorical questions“Would you have me argue that a man is entitled to liberty?”

“That he is the rightful owner of his body?”

“Must I argue the wrongfulness of slavery?”

Although he wants to inform the reader of the struggles of slavery, he also wants them to feel emotional for him.

“I do not hesitate to declare, with all my soul, that the character and conduct of his nation never looked blacker to me than the Fourth of July”

Restatements

“America is false to the past, false to the present, and solemnly blinds herself to be false to the future.”

America didn’t see slavery as a bad thing in the past, and now in the future they just ignore it and don’t want to be reminded of it anymore.

Anti thesis“This Fourth of July is yours not mines. You may rejoice, I must mourn.”

Douglas sees the Fourth of July as a reminder of his past, instead of a great celebration of freedom. He had no freedom to celebrate being a slave.

“At a time like this, scorching ivory, not convincing argument is needed. Oh! Had I the ability and reach the nations ear , I would today pour out a fiery stream of biting ridicule, blasting reproach, withering sarcasm, and stern rebuke.”

continued

Although he does in a way want some sympathy to show that if he ever had the chance to speak the way he felt, there would be much “ridicule” and hating word towards them.

Everyone celebrates the Fourth of July as a great celebration while to him it is a day of “cruelty to which he is the constant victim.”

“Your sounds of rejoicing are empty and heartless; your shouts of liberty and equality; hollow mock.”

Sympathy

“There is not a nation of earth that is guilty of practices more shocking and bloody than are the people of the United States at this very hour.”