Yaire Castillo

7 September 2020

ENG1121

Word Count: 806

Micro-Activity #4

In Frederick Douglass’ speech, “What to the Negro is the Fourth of July?” he tells his audience that although the Fourth of July is an important day because that’s the day the 13 colonies acquired freedom from England it is not an important day for him or for his people. His people having a darker skin color and no rights can’t possibly share the same excitement or even happiness for that day when they themselves aren’t free. They don’t share the same rights or even power.

Quote #1: In the speech, “What to the Negro is the Fourth of July?”, Douglass states,

There are seventy-two crimes in the State of Virginia, which, if committed by a black man, (no matter how ignorant he be,) subject him to the punishment of death; while only two of the same crimes will subject a white man to the like punishment.

Paraphrase: In other words, Frederick Douglass is trying to prove his point that the difference between a dark skinned person and a white colored person is nothing less but their skin color. Their skin color strays them away from acquiring the same equal rights. The punishment a black mans gets from committing the same crime as a white colored man always ends up being more crititical and harsh.

Respond: It is not fair that a black colored men pays more for the color of his skin than the actual crime he has committed while a white colored man revokes his punishment with the privilege that his skin color gives him. Frederick Douglass has pointed out that both skin colors don’t have the same equal rights for something so small as just skin color.

Quote #2: In the speech “What to the Negro is the Fourth of July?”, Douglass states, “For black men there are neither law, justice, humanity, nor religion.”(pg.13)

Paraphrase: That is to say that, black men don’t have any power or voice. Black men struggle to have any type of rights in any category of life whether it’s in religion or justice.

Respond: Frederick Douglass argues that a black men struggles more than anyone can imagine yet they can’t even have a fair trial at life. Time after time they are being pushed closer to the floor than to the sky were they can chase after their dreams or become better versions of themselves. I agree with this because it is absurd that a colored man has to fight for recognition and power for something that is out of their hands, which is their skin color.

Two moments where Douglass’ writing strategies catch my attention

While reading Frederick Douglass’ speech I noticed that he used many writing strategies to get his point across and that also caught my attention. Two writing strategies that he used are allusion and antithesis.

Quote 1: In the speech, “What to the Negro is the Fourth of July?”, Douglass states,

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!

Explanation: Through the use of allusion, Douglass is able to bring up the constitution and the bible and how they are being questioned. They are being questioned because they are letting dark skin people being treated poorly. I found this effective because it does make you question like in what grounds do dark skin colored people have to be in order to have a voice and power? When are they going to have the respect they deserve?

Quote 2: In the speech “What to the Negro is the Fourth of July?”, Douglass states,

You profess to believe “that, of one blood, God made all nations of men to dwell on the face of all the earth,” and hath commanded all men, everywhere to love one another; yet you notoriously hate, (and glory in your hatred,) all men whose skins are not colored like your own (pg 17).

Explanation: The writing strategy that Douglass uses is antithesis. Not only does it show how the American people contradict themselves but it also shows the two different ideas they have for people who don’t share the same color skin as them. They say that they are a unit yet turn around and treat colored people poorly. How can you be a unit and still tear them down? Why can’t you uplift them rather belittling them? This quote makes you realize that it is hard being part of a society that doesn’t really count you as an important figure because of your skin color.