In the speech by Frederick Douglass, “The Meaning of July Fourth for the Negro” Douglass makes the point that this patriotic American holiday does not mean anything to African-Americans. His reactions to the day are passionate, as he makes the case that slavery in the United States should be brought to an end. One of the focal points of his speech is the hypocrisy of Americans who spoke about independence at the same time that they were firmly entrenched in the institution of slavery. Douglass uses literary devices throughout the speech to emphasize his various emotions. In the beginning of the speech, he asks rhetorical questions that emphasize the ironic situation of a former slave, a black man, speaking to a wide audience about a holiday that signifies freedom. His “fellow citizens” celebrate July 4 while simultaneously, untold numbers of slaves are suffering “under the weight of their heavy and grievous chains” (Douglass) amidst the “jubilant shouts” that accompany the July 4 holiday celebrations. For slaves, the whole concept of July 4 is meaningless and irrational.
During the first part of the speech, Douglass does give credit to what the Founding Fathers accomplished in the country, although quickly the speech turns into a significant condemnation of the way that American society viewed slavery. In addressing the president of the Anti-Slavery Society and its members, Douglass expresses a degree of equality with his fellow citizens who have come to listen to him. He uses logos to draw a parallel between the Founding Fathers seeking freedom from the British rule and the right of slaves to also seek freedom from their oppressors. He also reminds the audience that when the Revolution was fought in 1776, many people believed that it was radical and dangerous to revolt against the tyranny of the British, much the same as in 1852, abolitionism was viewed as dangerous and subversive. The implication is that in the future, Americans will regard Douglass’ antislavery position as fair, patriotic, and rational.
Use your promo and get a custom paper on
"The Meaning of July Fourth for the Negro".
Douglass also expresses admiration for those people who signed the Declaration of Independence, putting the best interests of the nation above their self interests. However, he says, he does not intend to solely praise and thank them, but rather to continue the mission of those revolutionaries who fought to bring freedom and democracy to the United States. He then asks whether or not those ideals that were enshrined in the Declaration of Independence were also meant to be given to black people. He answers the question by saying that for black people, celebrating this freedom for white men is “inhuman mockery and sacrilegious irony” (Douglass.)
Douglass uses pathos throughout the speech, when he writes that “the day that reveals to [the slave], 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, and unholy license, your national greatness, swelling vanity…” (Douglass.) Logos is used in many spots as well, when he provides his audience with all of the reasons that slaveholding equals hypocrisy. In addition, he uses ethos when he mentions his history as a free man who has also been a slave.
Douglass does discuss some of the arguments that his opponents might hypothetically make. For instance, he talks about people who are mildly sympathetic to the abolitionists but who complain that they cannot make a good argument and simply denounce slavery. He also takes issue with those who maintain that slavery is a divine plan, a concept that he thoroughly rejects. In addition, he addresses the opponents who think that the Constitution allows slavery. In his speech, Douglass uses the Toulmin argumentation because there is a clear distinction between the two sides. The Toulmin argument presented in this speech concentrates on eliminating any credibility of the opposition in order to strengthen Douglass’s argument.
- Douglass, Frederick. “The Meaning of July Fourth for the Negro.” History Is a Weapon. n.d. Web. 11 April 2017.
- Driver, Helen, Natascha Gast, and Susan Lowman-Thomas. “Using the Rogerian Method of Argumentation.” English 102 – Effectiveness in Writing. 2012. Web
