Rhetorical Analysis Of What To The Slave Is The Fourth Of July

What to the Slave is the 4th of July by Frederick Douglass
“Without a struggle, there can be no progress.” Those were words from an African-American social reformer, abolitionist, orator, writer, and statesman. Frederick Douglass was born into slavery, but overcame that along with other obstacles to be the great man that we read and hear about today. What to the Slave is the 4th of July was a speech Douglass said in New York, explaining how the fourth of July was nothing to the slaves, as it was for the white Americans. In this speech there are examples of Ethos, Pathos, and Logos. He starts off in a very humble manner saying how he is trusting their “patient and generous indulgence.” Which is a smart small move in pathos. Audience member will
Again Douglass brings up a fact to the audience stating “On the 2nd of July, 1776, the old Continental Congress, to the dismay of the lovers of ease, and the worshipers of property, clothed that dreadful idea with all the authority of national sanction.” This fact however contains both logos and pathos. It states factual evidence when remarking on the date, and adds a twist of emotion when he states that something was a “dreadful” idea. “Friends and citizens, I need not enter further into the causes which led to this anniversary. Many of you understand them better than I do.” Douglass saying this to the audience is a great example of ethos. He was modest and humble, with raises his ethos. For an African American at that time to stand before a crowd and say what he said about slavery shows his ethos because at that day and age it was risky to talk like that. One really strong quote I found in speech was "see, too, that girl of thirteen, weeping, yes! weeping, as she thinks of the mother from whom she has been torn!" This quote really appeals to pathos and could impact the crowd very greatly. Douglass had a very, very smart approach on the speech. Not only did he get his point across, but