The Meaning of July Fourth for the Negro

The black people of this time had no freedom at all. The Fourth of July is all about independence but the blacks were slaves and had no say in their lives what so over. This day is just an ordinary day for them and it has no significance what so ever. It angers them that the people who have it so easy flash it in their faces with celebrating such a day that pretty much says "we're better than you because we have rights." Why would the slaves want to celebrate a day that is supposed to represent all men being equal and sharing the same basic rights when they don't even have any at all? This is not a day for them, it does not stand for what the country is really about at this time. This is the very good point Frederick Douglas was trying to bring up in his speech "The Meaning of July Fourth for the Negro." I think this relates to Emerson's "Self Reliance." All men have the ability to do great and be great it just lies inside themselves. Frederick does believe he is a significant human being who deserves all the same rights as the white men who get to celebrate this holiday with such freedom. He knows it is not fair and that he should be celebrating amoungst them as equals. As Emerson says if you want to be significant you must first realize that you, yourself, is significant. Douglas does realize this and that is what he needs in order to make an important change in the world that he would like to see. In this speech Douglas tried to prove this point to other slaves so they could see as he sees. The slaves need to realize the country does not have to be how it is. Once the people realize they a important or significant people they can help Douglas in taking a stand against the unjust actions they have to take every day.

Douglas, Frederick. "The Meaning of July Fourth for the Negro." Africans in America. International Publishers Co. Web. 2012.