Micro-Activity #4: Responding to Douglass

Sumon Alam 

ENG- 1121

Professor Jessica Penner

09-09-2020

Quote: “I am glade, fellow-citizens, that your nation is so young. Seventy-six years though good old age for a man, is but a mere speck in the life of a nation.” (Douglass -page 1-2)

Paraphrase : I’m happy so say that United States of America is a young country and every 

Response : In this quote, He’s trying to send a message that this Nation is young and together as people we can reform it into a better change.

Quote: “Standing with God and the crushed and bleeding slave on this occasion, I will, in the name of humanity which is outraged, in the name of liberty which is fettered, in the name of the constitution and the Bible, which are disregarded and trampled upon, dare to call in question and to denounce, with all the emphasis I can command, everything that serves to perpetuate slavery—the great sin and shame of America! “I will not equivocate; I will not excuse;” I will use the severest language  I can command; and yet not one word shall escape me that any man, whose judgment is not blinded by prejudice,or who is not at heart a slaveholder, shall not confess to be right and just.”(Douglass-page 8)

Paraphrase: Disappointed of America on the situation that is associated with slavery.

Response : According to my interpretation, the entire argument was in the favor of equal rights to men and women rather than race wise. Fredrick Douglass was disappointed how the population of the black community at that particular time was considered slaves, he argued against slavery and wanting freedom for all, and equal opportunity.

Quote: “Such people lived then, had lived before, and will, probably, ever have a place on this planet; and their course, in respect to any great change, (no matter how great the good to be attained, or the wrong to be redressed by it,) may be calculated with as much precision as can be the course of the stars.”(Douglass -page 3)

Explanation : What caught my attention is the strategy which Ferdrick Douglass used in the speech is how he made a claim indirectly such as he wanted a positive and equal opportunity.

Quote : The signers of the Declaration of Independence were brave men. They were great men too—great enough to give fame to a great age. It does not often happen to a nation to raise, at one time, such a number of truly great men. (Douglass- page 5)

Explanation : Referring to the Declaration of Independence and saying how brave the men were, which connects to the point and claim he’s making that associates with slavery.