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What To The Slave Is Fourth Of July Analysis

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In Fredrick Douglass’s What to the Slave is Fourth of July He begins speaking about how comical it was that he was even being asked his opinion on what this holiday meant to him. “What have I or those I represent to do with your national Independence? (Baym, 2013, pg 1002)” He feels that no matter how long he speaks he cannot change the already decided public’s mind. “Who so obdurate and dead to the claims of gratitude that would not thankfully acknowledge such priceless benefits.” (Baym, 2013, pg 1002) Douglass goes on in a state of despair as he explains that the character and the conduct of the nation has “Never looked blacker”(Baym, 2013, pg 1003) Continuing on he says “Standing with god and the crushed and bleeding slave on occasion

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