“What to the Slave Is the 4th of July?”: James Earl Jones Reads Frederick Douglass’s Historic Speech

[Music] this is democracy Now democracynow.org The War and Peace report I'm Amy Goodman today in this special broadcast we begin with the words of Frederick Douglas Born Into Slavery around 1818 Douglas became a key leader of the Abolitionist Movement on July 5th 1852 in Rochester New York Frederick Douglas gave one of his most famous speeches what to the slave is your 4th of July he was addressing the Rochester ladies anti-slavery Society this is James Earl Jones reading the historic address during a performance of voices of a people's History of the United States it was co-edited by Howard Zen the late great historian introduced the address Frederick Douglas once a slave became a brilliant and Powerful leader of the anti-slavery movement and 1852 who was asked to speak in celebration of the 4th of July fellow citizens pardon me and allow me to ask why am I called upon to speak here today what have I or those I represent to do with your National Independence are the great principles of political freedom and of natural Justice embodied in that Declaration of Independence extended to us and am I therefore called upon to bring our humble offering to the National Altar and to confess the benefits and express devout gratitude for the blessings resulting from your Independence to us I am not included within the pale of this glorious anniversary your high Independence only reveals the immeasurable distance between us the blessings in which you this day Rejoice are not enjoyed in common the rich inheritance of Justice Liberty prosperity and independence bequeathed by your fathers is shared by you not by me the sunlight that brought life and healing to you has brought stripes and death to me this Fourth of July is yours not mine you may Rejoice I must mourn to drag a man in Fetters into the grand illuminated Temple of Liberty and call upon him to join you in joyous anthems were in human mockery and sacriligious irony do you mean citizens to mock me by asking me to speak today what to the American slave is your 4th of July I answer a day that reveals to him more than all other days of the year the gross Injustice and cruelty to which he is a constant victim to him your celebration is a shame your boasted Liberty an Unholy license your National greatness swelling vanity your sounds of rejoicing are empty and heartless your denunciation of tyrant brass fronted impedence your shouts of Liberty and equality Hollow mockery your prayers and hymns your sermons and thanksgivings with all your religious parade and solemnity are to him mere bombast fraud deception impiety and hypocrisy a thin veil to cover up crimes that would that would disgrace a nation of savages there's not a nation of the earth guilty of practices more shocking and bloody than are the people of these United States at this very hour at a time like this scatching irony not convincing argument is needed oh had I the ability and could reach the nation's ear I would today pour forth a stream a thiery stream of biting ridicule blasting reproach withering sarcasm and turn rebuke for it is not light that is needed but fire it is not the gentle shower but Thunder we need the storm the Whirlwind the earthquake the feeling of the nation must be quickened the conscience of the nation must be roused the propriety of the nation must be startled the hypocrisy of the nation must be exposed and the crimes against God and man must be proc claimed and denounced James Earl Jones reading the words of Fredrick Douglas

Channel: Democracy Now!

Views: 65,972

Keywords: Democracy Now, Amy Goodman, News, Politics, democracynow, Independent Media, Breaking News, World News

Id: WtfZBV0aJ3M

Length: 5min 50sec (350 seconds)

Published: Thu Jul 04 2024