




To have the strength to stand up for something that one believes in takes a lot of heart, soul, determination, courage and strength. These movements help to shape a nation and its culture. The Civil Rights Movement is one of the most prominent movements in the United States’ history. In the speech “What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?” by Frederick Douglass, the African American speaker projects his message to his audience while focusing on the mistreatment of African Americans in America. This speech carried such a strong and empowering message. By looking at “The Black Civil Rights Movement” by George Burson and “Frederick Douglass Biography” by the Editors of Biography.com, they help to provide background information on the Civil Rights Movement and on Frederick Douglass. They provide information that shows the true hardships that African Americans went through and the process of the Civil Rights Movement. This is important to connect this article with other sources of information discussing the same time period to grasp a further understanding on the topic. 

One of the biggest messages that Frederick Douglass is trying to get across in his speech is that slaves live a hard and restricting life in a country that is supposedly free. The Fourth of July is a time for the United States to celebrate its independence and its freedom. Frederick Douglass questions what the holiday truly means from his perspective along with other current and former slaves. The slaves are not free; they cannot celebrate the Fourth of July because they have nothing to revel about. They do not appreciate and respect the nation’s freedom on this day because they have none. Frederick Douglass even goes on to say “This celebration also marks the beginning of another year of your national life; and reminds you that the Republic of America is now 76 years old. I am glad, fellow-citizens, that your nation is so young” (Douglass 256). The only inclusive terminology he uses is “fellow-citizens”. He does consider himself a citizen, as he should, but he also uses the words you and your in regards to describing whose country it is. Douglass could have easily said our nation, but he did not. The nation is celebrating their freedom, but not everyone has that ability. The current and former slaves during this day mourned because they were simply reminded of the rights that they did not have in a nation with a promise of freedom.

A large part of Frederick Douglass’ speech as well was to showcase the intelligence of an African American. The diction and syntax that he uses is profound. During this time, it was said that African Americans were uneducated and were unable to be educated. Douglass proved those statements to be false; in his speech, he was very professional. He quoted and referenced pieces of literature and events which helped in strengthen his message. In one of the last sections of the speech, he consistently pulls information and makes references to the Constitution. Many people never read the fine print of the Constitution, but Frederick Douglass made it clear that he had. It was not common for African Americans to even have the ability to read, let alone understand and comprehend a piece like the Constitution.  He goes on to end his speech by quoting William Lloyd Garrison, which only further proves his knowledge and intelligence to make his speech stronger and more valid to white people. It is easier to trust and to listen to people, especially during a persuasive speech, if they have a strong intelligence because it shows that they have knowledge in the message they are delivering.

In order to completely understand why Frederick Douglass was so passionate and why the Civil Rights Movement was so large, it is important to learn the historical context. In the article “The Black Civil Rights Movement” by George Burson, he discusses the timeline of the Civil Rights Movement for African Americans. One of the main points that Burson first makes is how the United States has contradicted themselves. Since the beginning, there has been strong racist elements in the country towards minorities. In addition, the United States believes in equality and being a free nation. Burson states “American bigotry has often conflicted with American ideals” (Burson 35). This is related to Frederick Douglass’ speech because the Fourth of July during this time was a very hypocritical holiday. Whites could enjoy it, but the African Americans had no freedom and saw the holiday as a reminder of what they could but do not have. The intolerance towards certain groups is what lead to people questioning American’s ideals and mission. One of the most important pieces to the movement was when Johnson was president. He created the Civil Rights Act of 1963 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. For those acts to occur, there had to be a movement. That movement was carried on and grew stronger and larger because of people like Douglass. For example, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. played a key role in the movement; he was the most iconic figure of the Civil Rights Movement. The followers of the movement listened to him and let him lead them. He became the face of the movement. Blacks had been trying to move to the North since World War I since there was less discrimination there. Once the school system started to become integrated though, the northerners started to have more opposition. The Plessy vs Ferguson court case stated that schools for the different races could be separate, but they would have to be equal. This was until the Brown vs Board of Education of Topeka court case which declared that the schools were not equal and therefore had to be integrated. Throughout the article, Burson not only talks about what got African American their rights and their journey, but also how even through there is no more legal discrimination, there is still economic and social discrimination throughout the country. African Americans did not have it easy. They needed this movement to gain status and power. The historical evidence shows the hardships that African Americans had to face and how long and strenuous their journey was to get where they are today.

Frederick Douglass lived a hard life. His passion for the Civil Rights Movement grew through his own personal experiences. He was born around 1818 in Talbot County, Maryland into slavery. He had been a slave since he was a young boy. He started in Talbot County then moved to Baltimore. After, he got moved to a new plantation with an extremely abusive owner. Douglass had enough one day and beat him. His owner never touched him again (Biography.com Editors). Slaves were not allowed to be given the power to read and write; they were not allowed to be taught how. Douglass’ owners in Baltimore taught him though (Biography.com Editors). From then on, he continued to learn and to teach other slaves. The south was no friend to a slave  during this time. Many slaves would try to escape the horror of the south by moving up north. It was never easy though. Frederick Douglass attempted to escape and was caught two times, but on his third attempt he succeeded. He ended up settling in New Bedford, Massachusetts, which at the time was a strong, free black community. There, he told his story again and again (Biography.com Editors). By understanding Douglass’ background, it makes it more clear as to why he was so passionate about the Civil Rights Movement. To him, it was more than just segregation; it was slavery, discrimination, freedom, and living a firsthand experience. After he first told his story, it took off from there. He realized more people needed to know and if more people up north understood the brutality happening in the south, then maybe a movement could be enough for change. He went on to write books as well as give speeches to inspire people and to continue to share his story. If it was not for his second owner, he may have never become educated and therefore not taken as seriously as he was. He might not have had the same impact that he did. A person’s past can help shape their future. In Frederick Douglass’ case, that is exactly what happened.

By understanding the history of a movement and a person, it helps to make sense of actions that occurred in relation to the movement or person. The speech “What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?” by Frederick Douglass was meant to move people. It was meant to inspire. Its purpose was to make a change. Frederick Douglass had his own story to share. The Civil Rights Movement effected all of the United States. It made a change to the way people went about their everyday lives. “The Black Civil Rights Movement” by George Burson and “Frederick Douglass Biography” by the Editors of Biography.com give information regarding the movement and someone who was highly involved. They help to understand the Civil Rights Movement and the mistreatment of African Americans during this time. Frederick Douglass may have only been one person, but sometimes one person can make all the difference in the world.







