Quote 1:​​”This, for the purpose of this celebration, is the 4th of July. It is the birthday of your National Independence, and of your political freedom. This, to you, is what the Passover was to the emancipated people of God. It carries your minds back to the day, and to the act of your great  deliverance; and to the signs, and to the wonders, associated with that act, and that day.”

Paraphrase: To everyone, this is your holiday. This is the day of America’s independence. This compares to Passover for the people of God. It brings memories of the many good things that happened on tis day. This is the day that political freedom was born. 

Explain: This quote helps Douglass argument because he continues to mention that the fourth of July is “your” celebration but not his. He compares this to Passover so people listening could understand the importance of this day to others. He also spoke on 4th of July only about the freedom that the Americans got from the others and did not care about those who were slaves of Americans. The speaker reveals that they were neglected and whose feelings were not considered at all during the celebrations of 4th of July throughout this day.

Quote 2:”For the present, it is enough to affirm the equal manhood of the negro race. Is it not astonishing that, while we are ploughing, planting and reaping, using all kinds of mechanical tools, erecting houses, constructing bridges.”

Paraphrase: African Americans should not need to prove that they are people. They should be allowed freedom and respect for all the work and suffering they have been through.

Explanation: Douglass uses deductive reasoning to express and to give the main message that the black race is equal to the rest of the races, by exposing diverse premises that made that conclusion logical to be true. Douglass observed the general fact that black men and white men have the same skills and abilities.