Frederick Douglas Has Ovaries! (oh god i hope i can say that)

In Frederick Douglas’ speech “What To The Slave Is The Fourth of July?” another perspective of the Fourth of July is given. This perspective is one of sarcasm and outrage. Douglas recognizes the Declaration of Independence as a document of genius, but points out all of America’s trespasses committed in the past and present. Douglas’ appeal to logos is his use of turning Virginia’s own state laws against the abolitionists. This argument is powerful because how could the abolitionists have argued against their own laws? In his appeal to logos, Douglas also points out the obvious trend of white males owning all, including people. Douglas uses his anger to his advantage when he says, “The rich inheritance of justice, liberty, prosperity and independence, bequeathed by your fathers, is shared by you, not by me.” He uses his own ethos to show why he is disparaged by an invitation to a Fourth of July celebration. Why would Frederick Douglas want join in pride with the men that have enslaved other humans? The pathos in this speech is portrayed when Douglas lists all the dehumanizing, torturous assaults against slaves. “What, 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?”
I think the most important point to take away from this speech is Douglas’ view of how we (then and now) deal with slavery and racism. We treat it with a gentle shower of criticism, or as in most cases do not acknowledge it at all. I share Douglas’ view. I believe sitting in class and discussing America’s problem is step one and the most important step. But what do we do? How can we change what we see as wrong? One answer is most certainly making a powerful speech at an abolitionist event. This is not entirely possible, so why not at school?