One of the most notable abolitionists of the eighteenth century was Frederick Douglass.

The former African American slave gained national attention, due to his incredible orations that pushed for equality among all people and promoted change in common ideological thinkings, that divided the United States and its minorities. His writings and speeches are clear evidence that historical events have a tremendous influence on how a variety of minorities view particular holidays. In his oration “What Is a Slave to the Fourth of July”, the author explains the sorrows of the Fourth of July. Frederick Douglass’s perception of how African Americans deeply mourned on the patriotic holiday, due to slavery and other African American suffrages, while whites enthusiastically celebrated in joy of their freedom helps to show a sharp contrast in celebrations and views. 

Douglass deeply depicts how African Africans perceive the so-called day of independence. He does so by stating that African Americans perceive the holiday as “a day that reveals to him, more than all other days in the year, the gross injustice and cruelty to which he is the constant victim” (Douglass). Douglass places African Americans as victims. This helps begin to depict the viewpoint of how he and other African Americans felt about Independence Day. In the article, "African-American Public Rituals On The Fourth Of July And Citizenship In South Carolina During Reconstruction” the author, Jeffrey Strickland, describes Douglass’s perception by stating, “Black leaders used the day to point out the inequalities that existed in the United States. The Fourth of July meant the prospect of emancipation and citizenship to millions of enslaved African-Americans. When African-Americans did realize freedom they celebrated the holiday with fervor never before witnessed in the South” (Strickland). This quote shows how Douglass and other African Americans used the Fourth of July to expose the ignorance and imbalance of liberties in America. Blacks were forced into slavery and dictated on what to do and when to do it. This so-called patriotic day was perceived as a device to reveal the faults in the governmental and political systems. Up until this point, the Fourth of July was a weapon for abolitionist to uncover the inequalities that America laid out. Additionally, on Independence Day, “Douglass, though a free man, assumes the position of a representative of African Americans callously enslaved in a nation dedicated to liberty and of free, Northern African Americans accorded, at best, second class citizenship” (Duffy & Besel). Douglass became a symbolic spokesperson on the Fourth of July. The abolitionist recognized the faults in his country and saw them further exposed each year on that holiday. His perception was biased because he was formerly enslaved and never was viewed upon as a proper citizen. He looks at the holiday as disrespect to African Americans, but also a day to promote a movement towards equality. African Americans had a degrading and despairing outlook on the holiday, which sharply contrasts white Americans appreciation.

In contrast Frederick Douglass perceived white American’s view of Independence Day in a completely different direction. In the “Recollection, Regret, And Foreboding In Frederick Douglass's Fourth of July Orations Of 1852 And 1875”, Bernard K. Duffy and Richard D. Besel write about Douglass’s view of the Fourth of July by stating “Its praise is reserved for the sacrifices made and the risks taken by the Founders on behalf of liberty, and even that praise serves to heighten Douglass’s argument of blame—that Americans in the present were guilty of the sin of hypocrisy for accepting the institution of slavery in their midst.” (Duffy & Besel 7). Douglass viewed Independence Day as a day to remember the founding fathers that risked everything for their country, but faults white Americans of that time for allowing themselves to strip the basic liberties from African Americans. The founding fathers built this country around the alienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, yet blacks weren’t granted any of these. Douglass is astonished that white Americans are able to celebrate a holiday built around freedom and independence, but contradict those values so much. Strickland further describes Douglass’s perception of how whites view the holiday by saying, “To him, your celebration is a sham; your boasted liberty, an unholy license; your national greatness, swelling vanity; your sounds of rejoicing are empty and heartless; your denunciations of tyrants, brass-fronted impudence; your shouts of liberty and equality, hollow mockery; your prayers and hymns, your sermons and thanksgivings, with all your religious parade and solemnity, are to him mere bombast, fraud, deception, impiety, and hypocrisy–a thin veil to cover up crimes which would disgrace a nation of savages” (Strickland). Douglass’s despised the fact that white Americans were capable of being so ruthless and heartless by participating in slavery, but acted so solemn through their celebrations of freedom. 

Douglass identifies a sharp contrast in the “celebrations” and “ideologies” that whites and blacks share on the Fourth of July. For blacks the holiday carries little celebratory meaning. It brings out images of oppression and control. It further embraces their lack of basic liberties, but fuels them to push for freedom. Blacks were never granted basic alienable rights as specified in within the Declaration of Independence. Black Americans were merely a prop in the background of American History during this time and in doing so the holiday carried no celebratory practices. On the other hand, whites celebrate the Fourth of July with great joy. This holiday resembles freedom in the eyes of the whites, something blacks have truly yet to fully gain. Strickland sums up this contrast by stating “There is not a nation on the earth guilty of practices more shocking and bloody, than are the people of these United States, at this very hour” (Strickland). Strickland emphasizes the utter brutality inflicted by the white community and helps distinguish the gap between the two minorities. By grasping this disparity in views, it is clear that Douglass was making a valid point in his oration. He purposely distinguishes the contrasting views of the holiday to condemn slavery and call upon the countries motives for doing so. By describing the conflicting opinions the listener is able to truly grasp the point of Douglass’s speech. It is a cry to white Americans to end slavery and he uses Americas “patriotic” holiday to expose the faults in the system. A holiday that for one party (whites) brought joyous gatherings, brought with it grief and suffering to another party (blacks). 

Frederick Douglass’s perception of the Fourth of July helps show a strong difference between African Americans and whites in America. Douglass’s perception of how African Americans deeply mourned on the patriotic holiday, due to slavery and other African American sufferings, while whites enthusiastically celebrated in joy of their freedom reveals a variance in their views and celebrations. It is clear that the two races shared very opposing outlooks on the American holiday. African Americans focused around exposing slavery and other suffrages, while white Americans revealed their ecstatic rituals for the Fourth of July. 
