LAD #16: Frederick Douglass' "5th of July" Speech

"What to a slave is the 4th of July?" was the over arching question centering Frederick Douglass' "5th of July" speech. He asks what the true meaning of independence is for an African American slave. He questions independence for some people because some people are bound to slavery their whole life. While some rejoice on this special day in American history he mourns and looks at the fact that the black man did not receive the same treatment as the white man. In conclusion, Douglass claims that despite the actions taken on behalf of this nation for independence, their has also been numerous atrocities against slaves which have occurred within its borders that have not seen anywhere else throughout the world.