Dominic Padon, Responding to Douglass

Quote 1:

“I say it with a sad sense of the disparity between us. I am not included within the pale of this glorious anniversary! Your high independence only reveals the immeasurable distance between us. The blessings in which you, this day, rejoice, are not enjoyed in common. The rich inheritance of justice, liberty, prosperity and independence, bequeathed by your fathers, is shared by you, not by me.”  Douglass, Page 7-8

Paraphrase:
This quote is Douglass declaring that there is an imbalance in social standing between white people and black people. Even though white Americans are celebrating their independence from the British, Douglass informs them that for all their declarations of freedom and equality, he and other African-Americans do not have the same freedom to celebrate as they are under the yoke of slavery.

Response:

I believe that Douglass says this to let his white audience know that there is an imbalance. From the context of the speech, and the analogy of British oppression used, it seems like Douglass is using events and examples that would strongest illustrate the impact that slavery has on black people. 

Quote 2: 

“My subject, then, fellow-citizens, is AMERICAN SLAVERY. I shall see, this day, and its popular characteristics, from the slave’s point of view. Standing, there, identified with the American bondman, making his wrongs mine, I do not hesitate to declare, with all my soul, that the character and conduct of this nation never looked blacker to me than on this 4th of July! Whether we turn to the declarations of the past, or to the professions of the present, the conduct of the nation seems equally hideous and revolting. America is false to the past, false to the present, and solemnly binds herself to be false to the future. 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!” Douglass, Page 8 Paragraph 3

Paraphrase/Response:
This quote calls out the failings of the current American society. Douglass exclaims that despite the celebration of independence from the British and the joy of freedom and equality, there is a lack of complete independence, freedom and equality among everyone in the United States. Douglass is saying that the white Americans are celebrating ideals that they preach in word but ignore in practice, and that the atrocities that this ignorance allows to occur is an evil, rotting thing that corrupts the very soul of America.