The Meaning of July Fourth for the Negro
The Meaning of July Fourth for the Negro
In the years leading to the U.S. Civil War, the controversy over slavery became not only a social issue, but also a political and legal one as well. Opponents and proponents of slavery each looked to the American constitution, as well as the prevailing culture of the time, for direction in dealing with this matter. One such person who based their landmark works on this was Frederick Douglas, an emancipated slave, who fought tirelessly for the abolishment of slavery.
In 1852, Frederick Douglas was asked to speak at a July 4th celebration. In his speech, he made it known clearly, his despise for the treatment of Black slaves of the day, as well as the irony and hypocrisy, which was especially evident on that day. He explained that this hypocrisy aimed at the black population was evident on several fronts, and so, he refers to the fourth of July as "the birthday of your National Independence and your political freedom." However, Frederick Douglas never lost hope. Although in his speeches and writing he eludes greatly to the detestable and horrid facts black enslavement, he nonetheless saw a silver lining. "There is hope in the thought," Douglas said, after he explicated how America is a new and young nation, despite it being around the "old age for a man".
Since the United States was recently formed, there is still plenty of room for reform and changes that would not have been possible had America been older. America, he said, was still in the "impressible stage of her existence." As bleak and grim as the conditions were for blacks at the time, was nonetheless optimistic about the idea that blacks will one day be accepted and absorbed in all the ranks of society. He likened this to the analogy of rivers, which, he said, were like nations. Even though a river cannot be turned aside, "it may dry up". If a nation "dries up", there will be nothing left of that nation, except a "withered branch". This withered branch is a symbol of what the nation believed in and what could happen to it if it unfairly cast aside certain members of its society.
Douglas also pointed out that the Declaration of Independence was one of the most valuable factors in the...