Hypocrisy In Frederick Douglass

Since before the time of Jesus Christ, religious hypocrisy has run rampant throughout those who held power. Countless lives have been affected by others twisting religious interpretation in order to fit their own needs. Slaveholders used religion and scripture to their advantage when disciplining slaves, sometimes even if they did no wrong. Religious hypocrisy is especially relevant in the life of Frederick Douglass. Frederick Douglass’s life story depicts how religious hypocrisy committed by both slaves and slaveholders diminished the rights of slaves, while at the same time allowing injustice to endure.

In his 1852 speech “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July”, Frederick Douglass passionately argued that to the slave and all other Americans, the Fourth of July is nothing more than a mockery of the grossest kind; that the United States stood by hypocrisy to the values they ultimately swore by. In his speech, Douglass made four clear points: (1) “This holiday is to rejoice for the sake of freedom and liberty”; (2) “My people have no freedom, have no liberty”; (3) “You rejoice, my people mourn” (4); “This holiday is a mockery to us”. In making these points Douglass exposed the hypocrisy and ignorance of the nation. Douglass produced his argument with the use of several rhetorical strategies. Douglass used rhetorical questions that created a distinct separation between the slaves and freemen of the United States; the use of repetition of important phrases left a clear and concise impression on the listener, while using the logic and credibility of the Bible to communicate claims.

On Monday July 5th, 1852, Frederick Douglass captivated his audience at Corinthian Hall in Rochester, New York with one of the most powerful antislavery orations ever delivered, “What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?”1 As an African American and former slave himself, Douglass was a crucial component to the Civil Rights movement and the abolishment of slavery. His concern for equal rights sprouted as early as twelve years old, often listening to debates among free blacks in Baltimore, as well as becoming a member of the East Baltimore Mental Improvement Society. While enslaved, he taught himself to read and write with the patriotic essays and speeches in Caleb Bingham’s The Columbian Orator, which emphasized the power of a speaker’s

On July 4, 1852, former slave and American abolitionist, Frederick Douglass is invited to speak before an abolitionist audience in Rochester, New York. Although the speech should address the greatness and freedom of the nation on independence day, Frederick Douglass uses his platform to display his displeasure with the meaning of freedom in white America. Therefore, the sole purpose of his speech is to unmask the hypocrisy of a nation who dares celebrate freedom and independence while keeping African American slaves. To Douglass, the 4th of July is a constant reminder of the unfairness of the political and social core of the nation. As a social activist and most importantly a former slave, Frederick Douglass uses multiple rhetorical strategies to indict America on the immoral practice of slavery.

On July 5th 1852, Frederick Douglass, carried out this very captivating address at Corinthian Hall in Rochester, New York. He had been invited to speak about what the Fourth of July means for America's black society, and while the first part of his speech honors what the founding fathers did for this country, his speech soon develops into a condemnation of the attitude of American humanity toward slavery. During this time in history was one where the freedom of America was transpiring, being recognized and

Through his crafty use of rhetoric, Douglass delivered a scathing attack on the hypocrisy of America in his self-referential speech, “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July.” The speech articulated his passionate pursuit for liberty and equal rights. Douglass’s speech passionately argued that in the eyes of the slave and even the “free” black

Throughout “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?,” Douglass passionately argues his position that the Fourth of July, a holiday supposedly celebrating freedom and liberty,  is nothing but a hypocritical sham in the eyes of slaves and freed African Americans. In this fiery speech, Douglass calls upon his audience to fight against the oppression of slaves by properly recognizing their manhood. Douglass employs imagery to better illustrate the anger and despair felt by 19th century slaves. He uses diction, specifically rhetorical questions, to draw attention to the hypocrisy of owning slaves in a nation that celebrates the freedom of “all men”. He uses syntax to better help convey the cruelty of slavery and the terror that free and escaped slaves face knowing that they are constantly being hunted as though they are animals. Douglass’ implementation of these rhetorical devices and his appeal to pathos help him address his main message: a nation can never truly be free so long as the freedom of some is built off of the backs of the enslaved.

Fredrick Douglass, in his speech What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?, asserts that slavery is keeping the United States from properly honoring the founders of their nation on Independence Day. Douglass attacks the American church, openly defiles the American slavery system, and uses the words of America’s forefathers to convince the population of American slaveholders and politicians that slavery must be abolished. He uses aggressive, accusatory diction, gory imagery, and specific examples from the United States Constitution to argue his cause.

July 5th 1952 Frederick douglass got an invitation to make speech about what the fourth of July meant to the negroes. Douglass wrote a letter which especially focuses on the great injustice the Fourth of July symbolizes for enslaved blacks while White Caucasians trouted about the rights and liberties all people have. Frederick Douglass utilizes rhetorical devices like parallel structure, repetition and cacophonous languages in order to explain how the state of disrespect, brutality inhuman ways African American man and women faced.

Born into slavery, Frederick Douglass would soon become one of the most well-known intellect of his time. Douglass, as a slave, was prohibited to read or write but he strategically and secretly taught himself how to read and write. After he educated himself, he escaped from his bondage and made his way to the North. As his academic skills grew and improved, he started orating and writing and publication about his life. One of his famous oration was “What to a Slave is the Fourth of July?”,  given at the annual Fourth of July Oration.

In the Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass: An American Slave written by himself, the author asserts that justice for slaves and all men of color is different from justice for whites. Douglass supports his claim through examples by demonstrating how white men get away with killing slaves. Douglass’s purpose is to incite anger and compassion in the hearts of the people in order to abolish slavery and grant slaves the justice they deserve. Based on his provocative use of diction, Douglass is writing to the country’s leaders who have the power to pass legislation that will end slavery. Frederick Douglass, a former slave, received no justice and was denied the basic right to hold a trial and testify before court for the violent crimes he witnessed.

Although Frederick Douglass condemns the blatant hypocrisy of Southern Christianity most forcefully in his account of Mr. Rigby Hopkins, a close reading of Mr. David Ruggles reveals how Douglass celebrates those who, in their compassion and charity, reflect the true mode of Christ.

Frederick Douglass fought valiantly for the ideals of freedom, to ensure that the Declaration of Independence would be upheld to the natural law that it professed. Being an extremely educated man, Douglass held differing views from other African Americans about the Constitution, declaring that the belief that the Constitution did not support the institution of slavery. Also, Douglass had frustrations with the Revolutionary War, since it promised freedom to black people, but in reality did not live up to it.

Imagine a world where there was never any slavery or discrimination. This is what Frederick Douglass spoke about when he was asked to speak in front of thousands of people on the 4th of July in 1852. In the speech Hypocrisy of American Slavery Douglass speaks about how the people of that era shouldn’t have celebrated a free country when half of the country is enslaved. Frederick Douglass uses ethical appeal to access the readers sense of right and wrong to convince the reader that America should not be celebrating a free country.

Religion’s purpose, whether you believe or do not believe, is to uplift and give a person hope. It gives a person the belief that there is something bigger than themselves to watch over and help them with the guidance of their lives. When a person thinks of their religion and the god or deities they worship, slavery and the dehumanization of another person are not words commonly thought of. In reading Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, it is clear that the white slave owners’ misuse of religion lead to the ownership, abuse and mistreatment, and the defilement of the African American race.