Preview

Douglass 'Fortunate Reversals' Speech Analysis

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
622 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Douglass 'Fortunate Reversals' Speech Analysis
In his speech, which was later published as The Meaning of July Fourth for the Negro Frederick Douglass explores the injustices that plagued the African-American community during the time period in which he lived. Douglass questioned, “Are the great principles of political freedom and of natural justice, embodied in that Declaration of Independence, extended to us?” These principles, “that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” were not granted to the African-American population. In regards to the Fourth of July, Douglass stated that the white Americans “shouts of liberty and equality, hollow mockery”. Therefore, through …show more content…
Without some the reversals in his own life, he would have been unable to become the man he was. That is why I would like to institute a community service project titled “A Series of Fortunate Reversals” (ASFR), to help combat education inequality in low-income areas. To be a part of ASFR, parents must demonstrate a willingness to work, to better their own lives with support of the AU community, ASFR is not a free handout. Preferably, ASFR will work with mothers during the developmental years, from pregnancy to the age of six. Families will receive support from departments in the College of Arts and Sciences and the Kogod School of Business. Students and faculty from the elementary and secondary education, health promotion, psychology and finance majors will support ASFR families. This way parents can gain financial and mental health counseling and learn how to lead a healthy lifestyle for themselves and children. They will also receive academic support for themselves so they will be able to support their children through their own academic journeys. Children will also receive academic support and counseling if needed. By providing these support systems, the goal is to showcase the value of education and to encourage a life-long love of learning. Families can participate in many of the free events held throughout the city of Washington DC as extra enrichment. Education is often the key to

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Satisfactory Essays

    In the autobiography, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglas, an American Slave, Douglas reinforces the universal human condition of freedom through syntax, figurative language, and selection of detail. This is demonstrated in the third paragraph, which makes it stand out.…

    • 414 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Douglass, Frederick a man that taught himself to read and write, in his speech in 1852 “What to The American Slave is Your 4th of July” has given us a clear picture of the reality of inhuman cruelty that is slavery. That Douglass was triggered by it when the white man had the audacity to ask Douglas the opportunity to speak in stage about the united state’s independence, or how douglass see it, Their independence day. Douglass begins building his speech with personal facts and a clear horrific image of his people going through a inhuman life. His purpose that to confront the his audience that celebrating a day of everyone's independence and how it doesn't go by the black african americans and how yet slavery not been bring to a final point…

    • 431 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?” speech showed people in positions of political power the impact slavery has on the slave. His background as a former slave gained both him and the abolitionist movement more publicity, and with that came both opposition and support for Douglass and the…

    • 864 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    4th Of July Analysis

    • 300 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Douglass uses powerful sentences to get his point across. He uses “you” and “your” to show American belongs to the whites, he does not feel this is his country. Douglass states the 4th of July is only mockery of African American lives. “To him, your celebration is a sham; your boasted liberty, an unholy…

    • 300 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In the Narrative of the Life of Fredrick Douglass, Douglass uses rhetorical devices to convey his meaning that slavery is the worst possible experience for humanity in a contemptuous tone. Douglass states, “the wretchedness of slavery, and the blessedness of freedom, were perpetually before me.” This use of antithesis in parallel structure is used to convey his meaning by contrasting the two ideas of slavery and freedom, showing how extremely awful or beautiful each is and to show the differences between them. The use of the word “wretchedness” creates a contemptuous tone in this quote. He then goes on to state that upon arriving in New York he felt “like one who had escaped a den of hungry lions.” This simile is used to show the extent of his fear when in the south, showing how slavery is the worst experience for humankind. This comparison is made using a scornful tone, shown by the dehumanizing of the South through slavery. Next, Douglass explains that during his stay in the North “[he] was afraid to speak to any one for fear of speaking to any one for fear of speaking to the wrong one, and thereby falling into the hands of money-loving kidnappers, whose business it was to lie in wait for the panting fugitive, as the ferocious beats of the forest lie in wait for their prey.” Douglass writes this long sentence for the rhetorical effect of imitating the style of a person ranting, or speaking uncontrollably due to fear to show the horror of slavery. This is written in a bitter or scornful tone through his descriptions of the fugitive kidnappers. Douglass also includes that “[he] saw in every white man an enemy and in every colored man cause for distrust.” This almost equal parallelism is used to compare the common fear Douglass had for both races. The negative outlook on both races shows Douglass’s disdainful tone. Douglass further explains his outlook when he states his motto at the time was “Trust no man!” This…

    • 482 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The 1800’s were hard times for those who weren’t white males. Every other human being was basically considered a minority including American woman and African Americans. There came a point where the minority groups had enough of their voices being ignored which is when fearless leaders in each group appeared. Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Fredrick Douglas were the brave souls of their groups. Douglas and Stanton were leaders of two different minorities but fought for similar causes, with the powerful use of metonymy, invection, and allusions their cry for equality ignited a spark that hasn’t let out to this day.…

    • 814 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    What to the Slave is the Fourth of July is a strong declaration of what July fourth and freedom means to Frederick Douglass. The people who asked him to speak speculated that he would speak of the wonderful freedom the fourth of July bring to him, but things took a turn in the opposite directs. Douglass conveys his opinions through his diction, rhetorical devices, and figurative language.…

    • 306 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Nelson Mandela once said, “ Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” One man who lived up to this quote was abolitionist/orator, Frederick Douglass, Douglass was able to use education as weapon to verbally attack the structures and fight for the abolishment of slavery. Without Douglass being educated then we would not know Frederick Douglass for who he is today. In the narrative Learning to Read and Write the author, Frederick Douglass explains his endeavors to learn how to read and write although he is a slave. After Douglass’s instruction subsequently ended he made multiple attempts to learn how to read and write. As a child, Douglass took the initiative to seek educating himself; he also used his cleverness to gain…

    • 1054 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In Douglass’s Narrative of The Life of Frederick Douglass an American Slave and Ali’s Infidel both authors adopt comparable rhetorical strategies due to their similar experiences with oppression. In the Narrative of The Life of Frederick Douglass an American Slave, Douglass recounts his life as a slave and journey to freedom. Douglass’s upbringing as a second-class citizen in antebellum Maryland mirrors Ayaan Hirsi Ali’s experience as a woman in the traditional Muslim world. As both authors transition from their former oppressive environments to freedom, they both depict their experience using similar strategies. Douglass’s and Ali’s first view of New Bedford and Germany initiate the deinternalization of their oppressions enabling them to view…

    • 822 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    | “I was broken in body, soul, and spirit. My natural elasticity was crushed, my intellect languished, the disposition to read departed, the cheerful spark that lingered about my eye died; the dark night of slavery close in upon me…” (Douglass 63).“A representative could not be prouder of his election to a seat in the American Congress than a slave on one of the out-farms would be of his election to do errands at the Great House Farm” (Douglass 25).…

    • 831 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    4th of July Speech

    • 1896 Words
    • 8 Pages

    In 1852, the leading citizens of Rochester asked Douglass to give a speech as part of their Fourth of July celebrations. Douglass accepted their invitation.…

    • 1896 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    When Douglass talked about freedom, it was not much so of how much every African American wanted it, because we all know how much they wanted freedom. It was more about how he attained freedom and how it felt. “I have been frequently asked how I felt when I found myself in a free State...I suppose I felt as one may imagine the unarmed mariner to feel when he is rescued…

    • 509 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    SLAVERY ESSAY

    • 790 Words
    • 3 Pages

    On that day Douglass spoke in disgust to the American people, in regards to the treatment of slaves by saying, “Am I to argue that it is wrong to make men brutes, to rob them of their liberty, to work them without wages, to keep them ignorant of their relations to their fellow men, to beat them with sticks, to flay their flesh with the lash, to load their limbs with irons, to hunt them with dogs, to sell them at auction, to sunder their families, to knock out their teeth, to burn their flesh, to starve them into obedience and submission to their masters? Must I argue that a system thus marked with blood, and stained with pollution is wrong?” (F) (“The meaning of July Fourth for the Negro” Frederick Douglass, 1855).” Although his prominence wasn’t what it is…

    • 790 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Douglass, in addressing the lack of true independence throughout the nation, states, “I am not included within the pale of glorious anniversary! Your blessings in which you, this day, rejoice, are not enjoyed in common” (Douglass). Douglass, an abolitionist, focuses on the idea that while on the 4th of July whites celebrate their independence, blacks cannot as they continued to see restricted and as property of those same men. This controversy ran deep in the roots of racism, not just on a personal level. By directly targeting the widow Douglas, Twain forces the audience to generalize slave owners as hypocrites to better understand that the overall nature of racism is hypocritical; the United States is based on independence, so why should all people in the country not be independent as well? Twain uses this question to criticize the injustices that racism supported during this…

    • 1954 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    For Frederick Douglass, he thinks that all men should be equal, and due to his personal experience of being a slave (referring to the Narrative we have learned in class), he firmly thinks that black people are suffering greatly. And they should fight against white people for freedom. He also points out that education is the key for African Americans to improve their lives.…

    • 492 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays