Flashcards in Frederick Douglass Deck (6)
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1
Introduction
- Douglass speaking to friendly crowd of abolitioners but writes speech knowing it will be read for a much wider audience
- Took special precautions in speech due to being black talking about anti-slavery
- Douglass powerful black man so could be seen as threat to white audiences (why his introduction is almost showing a debt of gratitude for being given the opportunity)
- Talks about the “youth” of the country and saying it leaves room for possible change and improvement
2
Founding Fathers
- praises them and agrees with their values (addresses them as “your” fathers showing the disconnect between him/whites)
- Thinks fighting against the British government and getting away from colonial system was a good thing
- Referred to them a amen of great honor and spirit that set a great example in the declaration of Independence for the morals the country should be based on
- Begins to talk about the irony of Americans knowing the feeling of being under the direct control of another ye still practicing slavery (the sin of hypocrisy)
- Says the timid men who were for colonialism that were ridiculed by society are much the same as those who support slavery currently
- Again makes sure not to offend white audiences by stating how Americans probably already know more of their struggle for independence them he (only concerned about the present)
3
Fourth of July
- begins with a question of why is he giving this speech at all
- He and blacks represents everything that the Founding Fathers sought not to build in the country according to the words in the declaration
- Doesn’t share in the same celebration fo freedom and pursuit of happiness
- Holiday just a reminder of the suffering of slaves and the mockery of the words of the founding fathers of “all men are created equal”
4
Slavery
- says the argument of slavery whether it is right or wrong holds no ground since even slave holders agree to slaves being human through the punishment s they inflict
- Their is no question as to whether slaves hold moral human values since the thought of teaching slaves to read and write is so forbidden
- Despite all the tasks that’s blacks do alongside and even better than white men, they still aren’t completely respected as people under the law
- Says America is unrivaled in its slave brutality
- Ironic how symbols representing freedom and happiness like the American flag and Christianity are now also signs of restrictive torture of blacks under slavery wherever these symbols are present
- Fugitive Slave Law reduces slaves to nothing more than animals or wild game for hunt (punished mercy)
- American justice works one way and that is the way of the oppressor
5
Christianity
- Begins to condemn Christianity for not practicing it’s preachings when it comes to defending freedom of blacks
- Silent in the fight against slavery
- A religious institution that can’t show the minimum decency to a group of people is no beneficial institution
- Church not just indifferent but takes the slave holder side (says master slave relationship ordained by God)
- Openly says welcome to atheism and sin as Christianity has turned its back on the black race
- Compares the atrocities faced by the Scottish overseas were aided by the church defending their freedoms ( questions why blacks don’t receive similar treatment)
- All for the liberation of fellow Europeans but silent in the fight for black freedom
6
