In the writings about and/or by Frederick Douglas, we can determine he was highly
educated and influential individual of his time, but what made Douglass the man he was?
I believe what made him the man he was in the 1800 's was his desire for education and
the education of his people, his unyielding persistence in challenging America, his
independent views, and his true belief to prove all men equal regardless of color.
Frederick Douglas was born in slavery as Frederick Augustus Washington Baily
near Easton in Talbot County, Maryland around 1817 or 1818, the exact date is unknown.
Douglass’s father is unknown, but believed to been one of the plantation owners, his
mother died early in his childhood when he was around 10. …show more content…
In his speech on July 4th he spoke up how July
4th was a day of Independence and a celebration of freedom from Great Britain, but that
freedom ideology was nothing more than an illusion for the African American. This is
just one example of Douglass 's effort to show America it 's hypocrisy of freedom. I think
Douglass truly "calls out" America with the closing of his speech, "Go where you may,
search where you will, roam through all the monarchies and despotisms of the old world,
Baygents 3
travel through South America, search out every abuse, and when you have found the last, lay your facts by the side of the every-day practices of this nation, and you will say with
me, that, for revolting barbarity and shameless hypocrisy, America reigns without a
rival". (1005) Douglass could not have spoken a more perfect ending to his speech.
He basically calls out America by stating that we were hypocrites in that time period …show more content…
Douglass’s belief to prove all men equal are voiced throughout his speech, “What
to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?”. He starts from the beginning “Are the great
principles of political freedom and of natural justice, embodied in that Declaration of
Independence, extended to us?” (1002), in this quote he is laying out the rights embodied
in the Declaration of Independence, which are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
Which he points out that his fellow African Americans have not been extended these
rights. He later goes on and even compares America to Babylon, “By the rivers of
Babylon, there we sat down.” Douglass believes that America is still a young country
with the ability to change, but if change does not happen, he believes it is doomed
educated and influential individual of his time, but what made Douglass the man he was?
I believe what made him the man he was in the 1800 's was his desire for education and
the education of his people, his unyielding persistence in challenging America, his
independent views, and his true belief to prove all men equal regardless of color.
Frederick Douglas was born in slavery as Frederick Augustus Washington Baily
near Easton in Talbot County, Maryland around 1817 or 1818, the exact date is unknown.
Douglass’s father is unknown, but believed to been one of the plantation owners, his
mother died early in his childhood when he was around 10. …show more content…
In his speech on July 4th he spoke up how July
4th was a day of Independence and a celebration of freedom from Great Britain, but that
freedom ideology was nothing more than an illusion for the African American. This is
just one example of Douglass 's effort to show America it 's hypocrisy of freedom. I think
Douglass truly "calls out" America with the closing of his speech, "Go where you may,
search where you will, roam through all the monarchies and despotisms of the old world,
Baygents 3
travel through South America, search out every abuse, and when you have found the last, lay your facts by the side of the every-day practices of this nation, and you will say with
me, that, for revolting barbarity and shameless hypocrisy, America reigns without a
rival". (1005) Douglass could not have spoken a more perfect ending to his speech.
He basically calls out America by stating that we were hypocrites in that time period …show more content…
Douglass’s belief to prove all men equal are voiced throughout his speech, “What
to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?”. He starts from the beginning “Are the great
principles of political freedom and of natural justice, embodied in that Declaration of
Independence, extended to us?” (1002), in this quote he is laying out the rights embodied
in the Declaration of Independence, which are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
Which he points out that his fellow African Americans have not been extended these
rights. He later goes on and even compares America to Babylon, “By the rivers of
Babylon, there we sat down.” Douglass believes that America is still a young country
with the ability to change, but if change does not happen, he believes it is doomed