07/04/2021
Frederick Douglass was an abolitionist and powerful orator. His speech, "The Meaning of July Fourth for the Negro" was a searing examination of the hypocrisy of celebrating the United States independence from Britain while still enslaving thousands of African Americans, utilizing them to build the foundation of the country.
Douglass delivered his keynote address in 1852 at an Independence Day celebration in which he asks, “What, to the American slave, is your 4th of July? 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 denunciation 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. 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.”
His words still ring true today, as the 13th amendment still allows slavery as a punishment for crime. Today we encourage you to read Douglass’ words and reflect on them as the fight for justice continues. Here is a link to the full speech: shorturl.at/mntI3
