The Meaning of 4TH OF JULY for the NEGRO-Speech BY Well Known Author Frederick Douglass 7/5/1852
Posted 14 weeks 6 hours ago byOn July 5th,1852,Frederick Douglass gave a speech commemorating the signing of the Declaration of Independence.He told his audience,"This 4th of July,is yours,not mine.You may rejoice, I must mourn."And he asked them,"Do you mean, citizens, to mock me, by asking me to speak to-day?"The now-famous address is what historian Philip S. Foner, who has written the book"The Life and Writings of Frederick Douglass, Vol II, Pre-Civil War Decade 1850-1860, has called "probably the most moving passage in all of Douglass' speeches.
What, to the American slave, is your 4th of July? I answer; 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. To him, your celebration is a sham; your boasted liberty, an unholy license; your national greatness, swelling vanity; your sound of rejoicing are empty and heartless; your denunciation of tyrants brass fronted impudence; your shout of liberty and equality, hollow mockery; your prayers and hymns, your sermons and thanks-givings, 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. There is not a nation on the earth guilty of practices more shocking and bloody than are the people of the United States, at this very hour.
Foot Note: Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey, February 1818 – February 20, 1895) was an American abolitionist, editor, orator, author, statesman and reformer. Called "The Sage of Anacostia" and "ThLion of Anacostia", Douglass is one of the most prominent figures in African-American history and United States history. In 1872 Douglass was nominated as the vice presidential candidate on the Equal Rights Party ticket with Victoria Woodhull, the first woman to run for President of the United States.
He was a firm believer in the equality of all people, whether black, woman, Native American, or recent immigrant. He was fond of saying, "I would unite with anybody to do right and with nobody to do wrong."
For this entire speech, see link below.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part4/4h2927t.html
Good Fourth to you, and may PEACE and COMPASSION surround you and yours! Remember, we would not be celebrating this great day had it not been for the brave men and women, past and present, that have served AND continue to serve our Country. They are the true Hero's of our Country and GOD BLESS THEM AND OUR DEAR AMERICA! I'm outta here! SR
Thoughts
The Trail of Tears and Slavery
Submitted on July 4th, 2008 by Skye RiversTom, Aho.
Today is 4th of July and I found it appropriate to post the above since many may not be aware of who Frederick Douglass was and what role he played this date in history back in the 1800's.
I completely understand how you feel. Slavery does come in all colors and unfortunately there is just not enough ink to write about all of it. It becomes very painful for me when I consider all the types of slavery that is still happening in our world even today with small children being used as sex slaves and so on.
In visiting your thought and views on the Trail of Tears, I went and did some digging in your honor as Cherokee, and found this link that explains what this term means, and how horribly treated your ancestors were.
I am very familiar with the Native Americans pain. I worked for some years with a world renown Native American potter as her personal assistant. I was right there in the middle of it in Santa Fe NM. When she would fire her pots, it would be in the old ways, using manuere and wood in a special building that was sacred. It was considered an honor to fire along with her; one I had many opportunities to share and take part in for many years.
To put it in perspective for those that are not aware of what happened re: The Trail of Tears, here is a brief cut from the beginning of this page from the link below.
"There were ten million Native Americans on this continent when the first non-Indians arrived. Over the next 300 years, 90% of all Native American original population was either wiped out by disease, famine, or warfare imported by the whites."
By 1840 all the eastern tribes had been subdued, annihilated or forcibly removed to Indian Territory west of the Mississippi.
http://www.powersource.com/cocinc/histor...
I'm sick of hearing about slaves
Submitted on July 4th, 2008 by tomcatin4uPart of my ancestor's were Cherokee, Instead of slavory it was the Trail of Tears an most died on that trail. Besides some research Iv'e seen shows that not only blacks were slaves sometimes whites were slaves as well. I did nothing to the blacks an yet some of them think I should appolligize f that.
John Thank You........
Submitted on July 4th, 2008 by Skye RiversVictoria Woodhull was the first woman to run for President over 130 years ago. I wrote a blog about her comparing her struggles then to what Hillary Clinton had faced with her campaign. Even with the passing of time, it does not seem much has changed when it comes to a woman in Office.
Frederick Douglass was a great man, and a mover and shaker of his time. I thought it so appropriate to lend him his rightful place today being the Fourth of July.We have all spent so much time around McCain and Obama, and you are so right my dear... it's those voices of the past that are buried, ignored and forgotten in the mainstream of historical awareness that need to be brought back to the surface because at the end of each day, it's their wisdoms that really do bring it all down to the heart from where our country reigns. I wish I had the opportunity to have met this man and woman. I would have been truly honored.
His honesty was crystal clear inspiration, and his pearls of wisdom were timeless. Her strength still lives on empowering all women to embrace 'anything is possible'IF you want it bad enough in Life and Politics.
Thanks Skye
Submitted on July 4th, 2008 by John 2000Frederick Douglas really was a great, brave and brilliant man. He did not mince words and he was right for saying what he said. His words were the moral foundation for the abolitionist movements that grudgingly broke the bonds of slavery. It is not difficult to understand the awkward acceptance of many toward the July 4, 1776 Declaration of Independence. Perhaps the December 18, 1865 ratification of the 13th amendment should be a more accepted date of Independence for many American blacks. These things can be argued and understood. It was interesting to learn (wikipedia) that Mississippi only finally signed onto the 13th amendment officially in 1995.
It is wise to remember that slavery has always been a widespread practice in the history of mankind. Very few cultures have ever fully avoided it, and it is rampant in enormous scale even today. It has many forms and methods and it needs always to be opposed.
Nonetheless, it is truly time to move past the bitterness in the USA regarding the human abomination that occurred during that period of history. It is time for all Americans to acknowledge the true significance of the day of declaration of independence under a constitution that at least expressed the ideals of inalienable rights. Change is most often a long and arduous process rather an accomplishment of vague campaign rhetoric.
Also, Skye, thanks for the comment you made that "In 1872 Douglass was nominated as the vice presidential candidate on the Equal Rights Party ticket with Victoria Woodhull, the first woman to run for President of the United States." I think that of all topics, none are ever than more interesting than those countless nuggets laying buried, ignored, and forgotten in the rubble of mainstream historical awareness.
Happy 4th of July to all.