Summary – After reading “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?” by Frederick Douglas he mentions that American independence day is only celebrated by those who didn’t suffer. While every white American was celebrating their freedom black people were left in the shadows watching from a distance as they were still slaves to these people. He goes on to write a speech about how he felt at the time and expose the hidden truth and injustice about an issue everyone overlooked. 

Quote – What, to the American slave, is your 4th of July? 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. To him, your celebration is a sham; your boasted liberty, an unholy license; your national greatness, swelling vanity; your sounds of rejoicing are empty and heartless; your denunciations of tyrants, brass fronted impudence; your shouts of liberty and equality, hollow mockery; your prayers and hymns, your sermons and thanksgivings, with all your religious parade, and solemnity, are, to him, mere bombast, fraud, deception, impiety, and hypocrisy—a thin veil to cover up crimes which would disgrace a nation of savages. There is not a nation on the earth guilty of practices, more shocking and bloody, than are the people of these United States, at this very hour.

Paraphrase – What is the fourth of July to slave you ask? It is a day that uncovers more to him than any other day in the year which is full of treachery and savagery while he was the one getting picked on. To him, the celebrations are a shame along with their liberty. All the great accomplishments from this country are meaningless, The screams of freedom, prayers, and your religious parade are bogus and cover-ups for the massive scandals and betrayals. There is not another nation more culpable for their disgusting acts than the United States.  

Response –  The way black people view the 4th of July is not the same as white people view it. At the time the declaration of independence was signed all the white Americans were excited with joy and for becoming a free nation and finally having the freedom and power they wanted. Meanwhile, the black people were still slaves getting mistreated and having no freedom whatsoever. This holiday along with others like thanksgiving is a mockery and a fraud to other cultures in which angers them because it is a sign of disrespect.