Fifth of July Speech
In this speech by Fredrick Douglas, he begins by bringing up the idea to the people that why would he represent the nations independence and celebrate the great freedoms of the United States if when it was created, his freedoms were not there. He says how he is not and will not be part of this "glorious anniversary" because of this. He talks about how this day is for others and not him, how others will rejoice while he mourns, how this day brought happiness prosperity and liberty to others while death to me. He asks if the people are trying tomake a mockery of him by asking him to speak on this sacred day since he shall not be one of the ones to rejoice about the Fourth of July. He preaches about how blacks can do all the same things, and would work, plant plow, have faith, use metals, be lawyers, etc. and yet they cannot celebrate this day because they were not free on this fourth of july. This day would be a day of bleeding for them and although are "men", cannot celebrate it because were not truly free.
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