Responding to Douglass

Summary: After reading and listening to Douglass’s speech, I believe that Douglass is arguing that the Fourth of July does not necessarily indicate a positive day for others as it serves a different purpose for different races. He implies that on this day, the British, who stripped them from their freedom are celebrating because there is no more tyranny and oppression, while for African Americans, it is a mockery and an insult to them because they had to fight for freedom in order to get what they have in present times. Therefore, Douglass exclude himself from celebrating on this day because celebrating on this day not only meant for freedom, but at the same time it meant forgetting those who died from slavery and unable to obtain freedom, in other words he didn’t want the past to be forgotten easily. Douglass is reminded back in the days, when was once enslaved and experienced freedom being stripped away from him. He despised the the fact that African Americans had to endure cruelty and oppression to make a change in society and allow freedom to exist for future generations, but the ironic aspect of this is that slavery is still ongoing in some parts of the country.

Quote: Douglass argues that “You declare, before the world, and are understood by the world to declare, that you “hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal; and are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; and that, among these are, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness;”and yet, you hold securely, in a bondage…” (17).

Paraphrase: You announced to the world and set an example to the world that all men are equal and are protected by these 3 natural right; life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, yet you undermine this statement with your motive of carrying slavery on.

Response: This quote helps Douglass illustrate his problem because he mentioned that he exclude himself from celebrating the Fourth of July because not everyone was able to obtain freedom and died as a slave, and in this quote it explains that nothing is really equal. The Declaration of Independence serve as a purpose to protect the citizens of the country and their natural rights, but in reality white people are perceived and treated as favorable, while African Americans are still thought of as a slave.