What To The Slaves Is the Fourth of July?

But, such is not the state of the case. 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. The sunlight that brought life and healing to you, has brought stripes and death to me. This Fourth [of] July is yours, not mine. You may rejoice, I must mourn. To drag a man in fetters into the grand illuminated temple of liberty, and call upon him to join you in joyous anthems, were inhuman mockery and sacrilegious irony. Do you mean, citizens, to mock me, by asking me to speak to-day? If so, there is a parallel to your conduct. And let me warn you that it is dangerous to copy the example of a nation whose crimes, lowering up to heaven, were thrown down by the breath of the Almighty, burying that nation in irrecoverable ruin! I can to-day take up the plaintive lament of a peeled and woe-smitten people!

In his speech on July 5, 1852 at the Corinthian Hall in Rochester, NY, Frederick Douglas gave praise to the fathers of this nation who obtained for our country's freedom, justice, prosperity and liberty for all, but for the slaves it meant unjust treatment, family separation, slavery and no right over their freedom. Independence was a very important day for America, but not for the black people. During his speech, Douglas lets the people know that the fathers of this nation were brave men and never looked back while fighting for this country's freedom; although they preferred peace and quiet they stood for the country's interest. Although liberty, justice, and humanity was gained slavery and oppression continued. The Fourth of July for the slaves meant meant sadness for the slaves; where they had no liberty, no salary for their work, were beaten with whips and sticks, were starve until they obey. He disagree for any slaves to be obligated to participate in the Fourth of July celebration for it will be an insult to their person; as to his person if he was asked to speak so he can be mocked. 

I chose this passage for I felt Douglas's words, for I see how in today's society no matter how equal the Constitution makes us we are all treated different because of our race, skin color, gender sexuality and disabilities. We the people don't look at each other to be equal because if that was the case discrimination would not exist in this world. Douglas speaks the truth when he states "We have to do with the past only as we can make it useful to the present and to the future" (Douglas, 7). We shall take our past history to have a better living in the present and continue building a better future.