Straight From The Heart By Fredrick Douglass Analysis

In comparison to John Brown, Douglass wasn’t as violent and his ways of helping the movement were by making lectures and preparing a newspaper titled, the North Star. As a former slave, Douglass had many reasons and background to add fuel to his words, which many took seriously and to heart. Using his words to his advantage, Douglass decided to create the North Star, hopefully to be solely written by the black community who felt the prejudice by others. Douglass hoped that the paper would succeed in planting his ideas, “the purpose of this paper…’will be to attack slavery in all its forms and aspects; advocate Universal Emancipation...promote the moral and intellectual improvement of the colored people; and to hasten the day of freedom to our three million enslaved fellow countrymen,’” (Miller 57-58). The North Star started to grow and become well known, the paper focusing on all kinds of issues, “abolitionism and other reforms were not the sole focus of Douglass’s paper. Just as important were issues of concerns to the free black community apart from antislavery,” (Miller 64). Besides using the newspaper, Douglass made speeches and lectures towards groups of people, many would come and listen to what he had to say about slavery. Douglass focuses on how slaves have suffered and how people should help them, and to not repeat mistakes made in the past, “What, then,

Frederick Douglass’s 4th of July speech was put on by the woman’s abolitionist society and looked to speak to the fellow citizens of America, friends, and the president.

According to Douglass, “They went so far in their excitement as to pronounce the measures of government unjust, unreasonable, and oppressive, and altogether such as ought not to be quietly submitted to” (Douglass, 150). Douglass saw similarities between the struggles of the forefathers and black slaves, and he compelled his audience to recognize these similarities and follow the example of the forefathers.

Douglass began his speech to the audience by asking a series of rhetorical questions in addition to the use of sarcasm. He referred to the Declaration of Independence as “that” instead of “the” Declaration stressing a separation between African-Americans and the freemen of the United States. He extended the use of his rhetoric by asking, “What have I or those, I represent, to do with your national independence?” Slaves, whose freedom is denied, do not share other Americans’ patriotic feelings regarding the Fourth of July. His use of these rhetorical questions was valid because it separated Douglass as a different man than the rest of his white audience. Furthermore, Douglass asked, "Would you have me argue that man is entitled to liberty?" He indicated that people knew in their hearts that all were entitled to freedom. Douglass demonstrated sarcasm in this principle of freedom, almost as if the aforementioned rhetorical question shouldn’t need to be stated. He further declared that the stigma separating free whites and enslaved African-Americans was blatantly foolish.

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.

The purpose behind Fredrick Douglass’s Narrative was to appeal to the other abolitionists who he wanted to convince that slave owners were wrong for their treatment of other human beings. His goal was to appeal to the middle-class people of that time and persuade them to get on board with the abolitionist movement. Douglass had a great writing style that was descriptive as well as convincing. He stayed away from the horrific details of the time, which helped him grasp the attention of the women who in turn would convince their husbands to help by donating money and eventually ending slavery. He used his words effectively in convincing the readers that the slave owners were inhuman and showed how they had no feelings for other human

“For the present, it is enough to affirm the equal manhood of the Negro race. Is it not astonishing that, while we are ploughing, planting and reaping, using all kinds of mechanical tools, erecting houses, constructing bridges, building ships, working in metals of brass, iron, copper, silver and gold…that, while we are engaged in all manner of enterprises common to other men…we are called upon to prove that we are men!” (Douglass) During his speech, Douglass elaborated on the different aspects of why blacks have a natural right to freedom as any other human being He argued it is wrong to turn a man into a “brute” and proceeded to argue that slavery is not divine in its origin. Douglass’s speech was a calling for equality, for change. He accomplished his goal and proved the fourth of July was a revolting reminder to him and those like him of the continual inhumane cruelty American attempted to conceal through its mockery.

Nelson Mandela said, “When a man is denied the right to live the life he believes in, he has no choice but to become an outlaw.” One such man, Frederick Douglas, wrote “From What to the Slave is the Fourth of July? An Address Delivered in Rochester, New York, on 5 July 1852.” He argues that even though blacks and whites went to fight in the war to be free, that promise was not kept to the blacks. Douglass persuades a northern, white audience, to oppose slavery and favor abolition. Douglass wants to remind abolitionist and White Americans that July 4 was not a celebration for slaves and former slaves. Independence Day only made slaves remember that they were made promises for freedom that were not kept.

On July 5th 1852, Frederick Douglass, one of history’s outstanding public speakers, carried out a very compelling speech at Corinthian Hall in Rochester, New York. Within that moment of time where the freedom of Americans was being praised and celebrated, he gathered the nation to clear up the tension among slavery and the establishment of the country’s goals. Frederick Douglass’s speech mentions the development of the young nation, the Revolution, and his own life experience. While speaking, his main subject was seen to be American slavery. The “Fourth of July Oration” was a commendable model of Frederick Douglass’s affection and engagement towards the freedom of individuals. Frederick Douglass’s speech left an impact on his audience

Fedrick Douglass, former slave and leader of the 19th Century Abolitionist Movement, in his speech “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July,” he asks his fellow-citizens what the Fourth of July is to a former slave, during Independence Day, at Rochester in 1852. In his speech, Douglass asks what does he and the people he represents have to do with the new found national independence. He speaks about the injustice his people go through because of the sole reason that Independence Day doesn’t apply to them and how there is no point in arguing this point. In “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July,” Fedrick Douglass effectively uses two rhetorical appeals, pathos, and logos, to inform the public that the Fourth of July was not his but of the

In some ways, Douglass’ message of the cruelty in slavery is most effectively portrayed through his word choice and language, rather than the actual presentation of evidence. At one point, after witnessing several acts of extreme violence towards slave, and even some murders, Douglass sums up the events with a common phrase among slave holders, “it was worth a half cent to kill a nigger, and a half cent to bury one.” While this may not be an actual fact, it is very logical, and shows why the courts would never convict a white man for murdering a slave. By choosing to use this statement, it shows how well Douglass understands his surrounding, and how corrupt and violent they are. This statement devalues an entire race of people, and that alone speaks to the reader’s heart. The logic of the statement

To start with, one point Douglass writes about to try to change his readers' understanding is that there were many injustices to slavery. An example of how he shows this is when he talks about Colonel Lloyd and how he treated the slaves that took care of his horses. Douglass states," Everything depended upon the looks of the horses

Douglass uses empathy and also addresses the opposing view in a respectful manner. These reasons make the beginning of the speech so strong and so effective. Douglass use of powerful word choices are also having a impact on the audience and on the speech. Another appeal that Douglass uses throughout his speech is pathos. Pathos causes the audience to feel very emotional and allow them to feel what Douglass the slaves feel. A example of this, is located in the beginning after Douglass’s use of ethos, “Fellow citizens, above your national, tumultuous joy, I hear the mournful wail of millions, whose chains, heavy and grievous yesterday, are today rendered more intolerable by the jubilant shouts that reach them…..I will, in the name of humanity, which is outraged, in the name of liberty, which is fettered, in the name of the Constitution and the Bible, which are disregarded and trampled upon,” Douglass uses pathos by describing a upsetting scene of what occurs when Americans are celebrating their freedom on the Fourth of July while slaves still await for their freedom to

Sweat rolled down the backs of an attentive audience. Despite the sweltering temperature, a crowd had gathered to listen to a renowned orator celebrate the birthday of their fine new nation. The day was July 5th, 1852, and Frederick Douglass was poised to deliver what would soon become his most famous speech, “What to the Slave, Is the Fourth of July?” Commissioned to be a cheerful hurrah, it instead scathes the unexpected audience, bringing to light the overabundance of hypocrisies dwelling in America’s Independence Day celebration. Asked simply to give a speech, Frederick Douglass seizes the opportunity

When I was reading Douglass' autobiography, I felt pity for him because he had experienced so many bad things in his life. They took away all the joyful moment in his life by taking away his mother before he had the twelfth month, and he raised without his mother affection. They denied him the privileges to read and write, and to celebrate his birthday. When he talked about how the overseers like Mr. Plummer, Mr. Severe, Mr. Gore and Mr. Hopkins have maltreated the slaves. For example, when Mr. Gore gave Demby three calls just because he did not come out at the third call he shoots him, and that showed he had no self-pity whatsoever. Douglass' autobiography was a sad story and tears drop in my eyes to see how human beings treated as if they