Frederick Douglas: 'Light Skin Vs. Dark Skin'

“A person held in servitude as the chattel of another” (Slave, n.d.). This is the definition of a “slave”. The most well-known cases of slavery occurred during the settlement of America, for well over 300 years, slavery was allowed and for the most part considered the “norm” within our country. There were many eradicators who made an attempt to end slavery, as we know at some point; they were successful at doing so. One very influential person was, Fredrick Douglas, he along with many others, were extraordinary influences in the anti-slavery movement. Douglas was known for being a social reformer, author, journalist, women’s and human rights activist, a publisher and an abolitionist all in one. He helped to shape and strengthen our nation and try to make it one with equality as possible. Dedicating his life to fighting for justice for all Americans, specifically African-Americans and minority groups. Frederick Douglass rose from slavery, this fact itself inspired him to do so much more than just write about what it was to be a slave. He turn into one of the leading African-American voices. Douglass would eventually become the best-known abolitionist in the country and the most famous black American of his time. As an alternative to only arguing against slavery, Douglass took a different approach, he asked some hard questions about what freedom really is. The speech by Fredrick Douglas, entitled “The Meaning of July Fourth for the Negro” represents just that. It express his discontent for the way the slaves were been treated while using sarcasm to prove his point that the slaves are entitles to their freedom, liberty and all American democracy.

Before reading the Willie Lynch letter, my assumption was that he was a black man. Then realizing his last name, “Lynch”, I knew he was white. Although The Willie Lynch’s letter wasn’t a real letter made centuries ago and it was made based off todays time, it gives a clear view of how black people are controlled today. In Lynch’s letter he gives advice to his people about how to control black people. The number one thing that caught my attention was when he began to list off the methods of controlling slaves, and blacks.

He begins by appealing to the feelings of the american audience: pride. Douglass talks about the forefathers and their accomplishments. Douglass goes on to use pathos again when he states, “ The freedom gained is yours; and you, therefore, may properly celebrate this anniversary. The 4th of July is the first great fact in your nation’s history- the very ringbolt in the chain of your yet underdeveloped destiny.” When Douglass says “The freedom gained is yours,” he is trying to convey that freedom is not for the blacks of America at this time. Whites are the only people allowed to freely exercise their freedom. Blacks are not free, for there is still slavery. The fact that a black man like Douglass is speaking at an event for the independence of America is a literal

Fredrick Douglas, was a man who was born into the cruel act of slavery, around 1818 in Talbot, his original, well per se birth name was Fredrick Augustus Washington Bailey, Fredrick Douglas was not a soldier, but he was a man who was known as one, he changed the history of America for time to come.

The Willie Lynch Letter: The Making of a Slave was a document that was presented by a white slave owner William Lynch on the bank of the James River in 1712. This document was written to establish how they can keep the African Slaves enslaved for at least 300 years. William Lynch had foolproof plan to keep the Africans in what we call today the “slave mentality”. His main goal was to turn the slaves against one another. Even today the powerful speech still enslaves black people and turns us against our brothers and sisters

He spoke in front of an audience of an anti-slavery society on July 5, 1852. In the speech, What to the Slave is the Fourth of July, Douglass states, “The rich inheritance of justice, liberty, prosperity, and independence, bequeathed by your fathers, is shared by you, not by me. The sunlight that brought light and healing to you has brought stripes and death for me” (paragraph 3). The fourth of July is nothing to celebrate for a former slave. It is a day of remembrance of how poorly they were treated because of their skin color. “Committed to freedom, Douglass dedicated his life to achieving justice for all Americans, in particular African Americans, women, and minority groups. He envisioned America as an inclusive nation strengthened by diversity and free of discrimination” (Mintz). The goal that Douglass envisioned was equality among all races. Frederick Douglass’s goal was not

Douglass was asked to come speak about the 4th of July and to give his opinion. In his own words he had to put a lot of thought into this subject. By using rhetorical questions he made his audience really think on their actions but on the whole country's actions.

Intro: "A battle lost or won is easily described, understood and appreciated, but the moral growth of a great nation requires reflection, as well as observation, to appreciate it." Said Frederick Douglass on January thirteenth, 1864 during a speech for the Women's Loyal League. Frederick Douglass has been called the father of the civil rights movement from becoming a slave to one of the most powerful abolitionists that the world has ever seen. He shaped the American nation through determination and dedicating his life to achieving justice for all Americans, mainly African-Americans, women, and minority groups. Douglass served as an advisor to presidents.

Frederick Douglass was an abolitionist, a human rights activist, and a former slave with a lot to say. July 4, 1852, a man was asked to speak at a Declaration signing commemoration event. This man, an African- American former slave steps up on stage and delivers a speech of the century, informing the white crowd of the slave's perspective on the 'celebration of freedom'. In the speech, Douglass claims that the Fourth of July is a day of mourning for current and former slaves instead of the celebration the White Americans partake in. Throughout the speech, he uses logos, ethos, and pathos to emphasize the hard perspective of a day that reminds the slave of their lack of freedom.

Frederick Douglas was an American orator, writer, abolitionist, and a former slave. Born sometime around 1818 in Talbot County, Maryland. Mr. Douglass was born into slavery and spent the first twenty years of his life enslaved before escaping in 1938. (Escape From Slavery) As a slave Frederick Douglass had many experiences both atypical and typical of a Southern slave. The typical experiences of a slave that he went through were firstly having a typical slave childhood. Secondly his fate was left to the complete discretion of his owner. Thirdly no matter what he accomplished, he was still just considered a slave. Lastly, he witnessed and experienced cruelty and mistreatment. His life was atypical in that he was firstly taught how

Frederick Douglass’ speech was a like a parent disciplining their children. Douglass tries to open the eyes of the American people the lies that they’ve been telling themselves. He also tells the people at this party that there is still hope but will take a group effort to get to this actual independence for all.

Standing in stark contrast and opposition to Calhoun, slavery and the entire social structure of the ante-bellum South was Frederick Douglass. A renowned statesman, Douglass was also an orator, a writer, and a social reformer – some even call him the father of the Civil Rights movement. After escaping slavery in Maryland, he became a leader in the abolitionist movement in the New England states. A firm believer in equal rights for all peoples – including women, Native Americans, immigrants and blacks - Douglas spent his life of freedom as an example of how wrong the slaveholder's pro-slavery arguments were. Perhaps it is for this passion for freedom of all peoples that Douglass was asked to give a speech for the 4th of July in 1852. At an

Nelson Mandela said, “When a man is denied the right to live the life he believes in, he has no choice but to become an outlaw.” One such man, Frederick Douglas, wrote “From What to the Slave is the Fourth of July? An Address Delivered in Rochester, New York, on 5 July 1852.” He argues that even though blacks and whites went to fight in the war to be free, that promise was not kept to the blacks. Douglass persuades a northern, white audience, to oppose slavery and favor abolition. Douglass wants to remind abolitionist and White Americans that July 4 was not a celebration for slaves and former slaves. Independence Day only made slaves remember that they were made promises for freedom that were not kept.

Frederick Douglass was a former slave who freed himself and fought the rest of his life for abolition. He is now known as one of the biggest civil rights activists and abolitionists as he spoke out against slavery and the unequal treatment of African Americans during the Civil Rights Era. “What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?” is one of Douglass’ most known speeches, which was presented in Rochester, New York on July 5, 1852. This speech was given in front of abolitionists, and now has been read by people all over the country. Frederick Douglass was a key leader in his time and later an important person in American History.

Frederick Douglass was another abolitionist who also spoke out vigorously about slavery. He himself was an emancipated slave who fought for the abolishment of slavery. He fought to demonstrate that it was crude, unnatural, ungodly, immoral, and unjust. During a July 4th Celebration he made it known that he despised the treatment of the slaves. He explained that this hypocrisy was aimed at the black population and so in his speech on the Fourth of July celebration he proclaimed to the anti-slavery individuals that “This Fourth of July is yours not mine” and “You may rejoice, I must mourn”. Frederick Douglass quoted from the Declaration of Independence, “All men are created equal; and are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights; and that, among these are, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”. He wondered if the rights that are stated in the Declaration of Independence, apply to everyone in America, because he believed they should. He asked the question what the Fourth of July was to an American slave, and responded, to the American slaves that one day, is full of hyprocrisy. He wondered how people could celebrate liberty and equality where there was slavery in America. In support of his idea of how sorrow slavery was Douglas used imagery. He stated, “I see clouds of dust raised on the highways of the South; I see the bleeding footsteps; I