Below are the google Docs for Micro-Activity #5.
-
- Look at the moments indicated below, and pick one bulleted section to address.
- Then find the appropriate Google Doc for that section and use the Google Doc for that section to write your response. Explain your ideas in one short paragraph.
Moments to pick from:
-
- Paragraphs 1-3: Find two or three key phrases Douglass uses to describe himself. Why do you think he presents himself this way to his audience?
- Paragraph 4: Notice all the times Douglass uses the words “you” or “yours.” To whom does “you” and “your” refer? What do you think is his reason for repeating “you” and “yours” so often?
- But I fancy…: Why does Douglass say, “But I fancy I hear some one of my audience say… ‘Would you argue more, and denounce less; would you persuade more, and rebuke less; your cause would be much more likely to succeed’”? Who are these audience members he pretends to hear? How are they different from Douglass? And how does he imagine them seeing him?
Google Docs:
“But I fancy I hear some one of my audience say… ‘Would you argue more, and denounce less; would you persuade more, and rebuke less; your cause would be much more likely to succeed’”? Who are these audience members he pretends to hear? How are they different from Douglass? And how does he imagine them seeing him?
Vanessa: Douglass is directing this part of the discourse to the white audience inclined towards pro-slavery. He answers to the fact that he doesn’t need to argue what is already obvious. The obvious being that slavery is immoral and no man or woman should be denied their right to freedom. He does not need to present an argument for his own people or sugarcoat the reality that slavery is wrong just to make it more understandable to the white audience. Douglass knows that as a black man confronting this crowd of white men, he is already being prejudged as being a beast and inhuman. This prejudice belief is also discussed further more through this speech when he says to the audience “Fellow-citizens, pardon me, allow me to ask, why am I called upon to speak here to-day? 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? 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?” (Douglass 7). He confronts the audience by rhetorically asking them why do you want me to speak for your country and your beliefs. When the matter of the fact is your people doesn’t support our independence and our right to enjoy the victory of the birth of this nation and its constitution. By delivering his speech so intelligently and eloquently Douglass proves to his audience that their prejudice beliefs are wrong and hateful. This oration gives hope to his own past DC to represent them as being humans and not beast and persuading the audience to give black man the opportunity to be better.
Please post this in the google doc for But I fancy…
Beddour: Douglass is referring to the white Americans who already and truly gained their freedom at that day. He is talking to a discourse community which he is supposed to be sharing the same experience, benefits and results of that day with them, but unfortunately he does not. He is affirming that he is not one of them and that the meaning and impact of this occasion are definitely not the same for him by repeating “you” and “your”. It’s your own freedom and your own independence therefore it’s your own celebration. He is directing their attention that things they had achieved 76 years ago, he has not obtained them yet til the moment and still fighting for equality. He is saying again and again in a non-direct way that the independence you are celebrating did not extend to him.
Please post this in the google doc for paragraphs 1-3
But I fancy…: Why does Douglass say, “But I fancy I hear some one of my audience say… ‘Would you argue more, and denounce less; would you persuade more, and rebuke less; your cause would be much more likely to succeed’”? Who are these audience members he pretends to hear? How are they different from Douglass? And how does he imagine them seeing him
Fredrick Douglas is targeting the audience who believes that slavery is ok that after America earned there freedom that it is ok for them to do the same thing to black people as was done to them . These people are very different from Douglas because they didn’t come from the same situation as Douglas they either where born with there freedom or never where segregated against because of there skin. The way I view the people imaging Fredrick Douglas is they believe that he is beneath them because of his color. Douglas also talks about how if he would rebuke less and argued more he might be more successful but that’s crap he shouldn’t have to do that at all. All these people know that they are wrong for encouraging slavery.
But I fancy…: Why does Douglass say, “But I fancy I hear some one of my audience say… ‘Would you argue more, and denounce less; would you persuade more, and rebuke less; your cause would be much more likely to succeed’”? Who are these audience members he pretends to hear? How are they different from Douglass? And how does he imagine them seeing him
Fredrick Douglas is targeting the audience who believes that slavery is ok that after America earned there freedom that it is ok for them to do the same thing to black people as was done to them . These people are very different from Douglas because they didn’t come from the same situation as Douglas they either where born with there freedom or never where segregated against because of there skin. The way I view the people imaging Fredrick Douglas is they believe that he is beneath them because of his color. Douglas also talks about how if he would rebuke less and argued more he might be more successful but that’s crap he shouldn’t have to do that at all. All these people know that they are wrong for encouraging slavery.
Please post this in the google doc for But I fancy…
Paragraph 4
Shahnoza Saidova: The purpose of using the pronouns “you” and “yours” is to emphasize the difference between the two races. Douglass wants to show that July 4th is the Independence day for white Americans only. The liberty the country has been given to only white Americans, all the celebrations and fireworks are for white people only. Black people are in sorrow, mourning and being used and abused meanwhile while people are celebrating their independence. Douglass also wants to highlight the fact that white people are the main reason for their abuse. By using “you” Douglass wants the audience to realize that audience members are not innocent and should feel guilty.
Please post this in the google doc for paragraph 4
Hi all of you posting here. You should put this work in the appropriate Google Doc. Please copy and paste your work into that.
Prof. Garcia
Amia: The audience whom Douglass was pretending to hear was the white people who are pro-slavery. Throughout the speech he tries to convince them how damaging slavery was. “They acknowledge it when they punish disobedience on the part of the slave” They are different from Douglass in race and morals. He speaks on a different view of not giving praise or thanks to the white men but to speak on the dismissal and experiences of race. He imagines them seeing him as a former slave who tries to persuade this audience on improving inequality.