
What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July is a speech given by Frederick Douglass addressing the Ladies’ Anti-Slavery Society in Rochester, N.Y.  In his speech, he described the Fourth of July as pretty much a joke to those living in the country who were still slaves.  Douglass describes the Fourth of July like this because it is a celebration of freedom but, there are very many African Americans that have no freedom at all due to slavery, segregation, and discrimination.  This speech is used in many english classes and courses around America.  An issue with this is that it is interpreted the wrong way due to parts of it being summarized because of its length as well as just simple misinterpretations of the speech due to its complexity.  The misinterpretation is that his speech is attacking America by saying the Fourth of July, Constitution, and Declaration of Independence by saying that they are all a sham.  Andrew Bibby, professor of American studies at Christopher Newport University and author of the Wall Street Journal article titled Frederick Douglass's fiery Independence Day speech is widely read today, but not so widely understood, tells us that the speech was used to pay a tribute to America’s freedom but at the same time, using irony, points towards the lack of freedom African Americans have.  Frederick Douglass’s goal in this speech was to shine light on those who were sick of slavery and discrimination but, many modern day people and educators summarize the story or just misinterpret the speech making it seem as if it is ridiculing America when, in fact, it is truly a speech that respects the country.  

Douglass’s speech was given in 1852, during that time slavery was still in existence and segregation and discrimination against African Americans was huge at the time as well. Douglass’s speech was used to help the downfall of slavery by pointing towards the lack of freedom African Americans have.  During the time, many African Americans were not allowed to attend Fourth of July celebrations because the white slave owners were afraid that it would give them a sense of freedom, possibly causing them to revolt (Bibby).  Frederick Douglass spoke of how ironic the Fourth of July was as it was celebrating the independence of Americans however, many people within the country were not independent because they were still slaves.  Douglass throughout the speech never let his audience forget how young and capable of change the country still was.  His speech points at the people in society with power that are pro slavery such as “the ‘flesh-jobbers’ driving the internal American slave trade; the disgraceful judges and lawmakers who support the Fugitive Slave Law; and the ‘wickedly indifferent’ ministers and churches who had become the ‘bulwark of American slavery’ and a shield for American slave-hunters (Bibby).”  Douglass is not trying to disgrace our country or our Founding Fathers but he is, however, attacking lawyers, judges, politicians, or relatively anyone else with significant power that are pro slavery.  

Historical background is a necessity to have for Frederick Douglass, African Americans, and slavery in general before reading this speech.  It is important to have this background because, Frederick Douglass was an African American that at one point in his life was enslaved therefore, many would assume he is biased.  Douglass was a great American figure who stood for the rights of all Americans, not just African Americans.  Douglass stood with our Founding Fathers by saying “With them, justice, liberty and humanity were ‘final’…(Douglass)”  He also continues to say “they were great in their day and generation. Their solid manhood stands out the more as we contrast it with these degenerate times (Douglass).”  What Douglass made apparent is that he wants the audience and anyone else who heard or read the speech to continue the work of the Founding Fathers that made the country great in the first place.  Douglass also stood for the Fourth of July saying, “The 4th of July is the first great fact in your nation’s history — the very ring-bolt in the chain of your yet undeveloped destiny (Douglass).”  This quote respects the Declaration of Independence by, for the most part, saying that not only has it gained the nations freedom but that there is still more power the document holds to better America’s future.  Overall, Douglass believed our Founding Fathers stood for freedom and liberty for all and that the Constitution and Declaration of Independence were written to represent that.

Unfortunately, as the years have gone on, the interpretation of Douglass’s speech has changed.  If not closely read and interpreted, it can easily be viewed as an attack on America, almost as if he is ridiculing America’s Constitution, Declaration of Independence, and America’s freedom all together.  An example of something that could be interpreted wrong was when Douglass said that the Fourth of July was “to cover up crimes which would disgrace a nation of savages (Douglass).”  The speech is widely interpreted wrong because, again, he used irony within the speech to show how it is a sham to those still enslaved.  The speech is only attacking those in power who are pro slavery.  When summarized, generally these are the only parts of the speech that are recognized therefore, it comes off like Douglass is insulting America’s freedom, referring to it as a joke, specifically to African Americans.  A very small, but confusing concept is that within the speech, Douglass uses the word “your” instead of our throughout it but, one must realize that he is addressing the Ladies’ Anti-Slavery Society, meaning he is addressing those within the audience and not the nation as a whole.  Quickly reading over the speech, it can be hard to follow at some points and those points are generally over looked.  Andrew Bibby states that “The famous 1852 address should not be misconstrued as a rejection of America's political tradition (Bibby).”  Douglass is using his speech to promote the downfall of slavery but, he is not using it to ridicule our Founding Fathers, Constitution, Declaration of Independence, or our countries freedom.  There is evidence of this when Douglass says, “This, to your is what the Passover was to the emancipated people of God (Douglass).”  

The goal in Frederick Douglass’s speech was to shine light on those who were sick of slavery, discrimination, and segregation but, an issue is that the address is misinterpreted wrong by man.  The speech comes off as Douglass ridiculing America because he uses the irony of the fact that the Constitution and Declaration of Independence stand for freedom yet, many African Americans are far from free at the time.  Douglass’s speech is not letting those forget that the Fourth of July is still a day of “mourning” for slaves and former slaves (Civil War).  Douglass does, however, attacks those in power who are pro slavery.  He may be attacking those that are pro slavery but, he views our Founding Fathers and all of the historical documents that brought our country together as a good thing.  To Douglass, he feels as if the Founding Fathers started paving the way for freedom for all.  He also felt as if, in the future, the Constitution and Declaration of  Independence would lead all slaves to a life of freedom and end discrimination.  Douglass’s speech may have just been a small piece but, in the long run, it did help lead slaves to a life of freedom.   
