My Paper

Itzel Delgado
AFAS 320
Dr. Abana
8 March 2013
The Hypocrisy of this Nation
The Fourth of July has been celebrated, for hundreds of years, as the independence of America from its oppressor Great Britain. This day signifies a day of victory and triumph over the injustice that reigned over the newly formed colonies. However, Frederick Douglass in his lecture What to the Slave is the Fourth of July? portrays the sadness and disdain that he feels for this day. Having once lived under the chains of slavery, Douglass is especially aware of the hypocrisy that this nation takes part in as it celebrates liberty, justice and independence. Douglass fervently critiques the institution of American slavery and the ideals behind it by depicting the mockery and hypocrisy behind the beliefs that protect the chains of slavery upon innocent human biengs.
Firstly Douglass begins by depicting the hypocrisy that is held within the celebration of the Fourth of July which should signify justice and liberty for their country; meanwhile they continue to enslave black people. Douglass without fear declares, “the character and conduct of this nation never looked blacker to me than on this 4th of July” (156). This statement makes it quite evident that Douglass is not joining in on the false celebration of what this nation calls freedom, liberty and independence from the oppressor. Instead Douglass goes on to say, “America is false to the past, false to the present, and solemnly binds herself to be false to the future” (156). This is a critique of the American institution of slavery as it makes reference to the roots of this nation’s existing and its history of once living under a tyrant who kept its colonies oppressed. This technique used by Douglass is extremely powerful as it forces the audience to contemplate the hypocrisy of this day that they are celebrating. Douglass forces them to realize that meanwhile they are celebrating freedom from the oppressor, they continue to force African Americans to live under their oppression.
Secondly, Douglass challenges the idea that slavery so deeply holds on to; the idea that the black man is not a man and therefore must not be treated like one. Douglass argues this with deep passion, describing the various jobs performed by African Americans, “reading, writing and ciphering, acting as clerks, merchants and secretaries, having among us lawyers doctors, ministers, poets, authors, editors, orators and teachers” (157).It is through this exaggerated list of jobs performed by black men and women, that Douglass is able to portray not only the competence of black men but also their humanness. These examples lead to the question could a savage carry out the task of a doctor, a secretary, a minister or a poet? Of course not. With this analysis Douglass successfully portrays the unfairness of the American institution of slavery on a competent human being.
After arguing that the black man is indeed human, Douglass’ third critique of the institution of slavery is the dehumanization of innocent human beings. Douglass passionately critiques the inhumane treatment of African Americans as he addresses his audience:
To make men brutes, to rob them of their liberty, to work them without wages… 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 know out their teeth, to burn their flesh, to starve them into obedience (158).
Only through this graphic imagery of the terrible acts committed, can Douglass successfully critique the severity of the dehumanization that the American institution of slavery brought about. This depiction allows the audience to contemplate the damage that this institution has caused.
Lastly, Douglass addresses the mockery of American’s Christian principle in their ignorance of slavery. Douglass’ lectures makes sure to make reference to the Fugitive Slave Law as he describes the men who are blind and unwilling to help a poor homeless slave who has escaped his bondage (163). He depicts the hypocrisy of their Christianity, calling it “an empty ceremony” and even makes reference to the Bible as he reminds them that these people are considered “‘scribes, Pharisees, hypocrites,’” under God’s law (Douglass 163). This is a powerful critique of American slavery as it takes a unique perspective, not only focusing on the dehumanization of slavery but highlighting the ignorance of their religious beliefs as they continue to allow slavery.
What better way to critique American slavery, than through the lecture given by Douglass on the Fourth of July? There could not have been a more powerful way to deliver the disdain that slavery should stir within every sensible human being’s heart. It is especially powerful how Douglass is able to follow the timeline of the nation’s beginning, from their independence, to their current standing and ignorance of the exact injustice once set upon them. His critiques surely set a precedent for the future abolition of slavery by fearlessly addressing the hypocrisy of this nation.
Works Cited
Douglass, Frederick, and David W. Blight. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin 's, 2003. Print.

Cited: Douglass, Frederick, and David W. Blight. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin 's, 2003. Print.