First Person
Independence Day
In the United States, today is the federal day off work to mark Independence Day, the 4th of July. It’s a wonderful thing to celebrate. In our little framily (friends and family) celebration, after the hot dogs and before the flag cake, we pass around a copy of the Declaration of Independence, in a newspaper or on a phone, and read it out loud, in turns. We started doing this when the kids were little, and it became tradition. It feels corny when we start, but somewhere in the middle of the indignant recitation of grievances against King George, it gets serious.
This year we’re also reading Frederick Douglass’s 1852 speech: What to the slave is the 4th of July?
I won’t pretend to have known this speech until recently. It was not part of my education, as it should have been.
Frederick Douglass did not pull any punches. His speech is powerful. It’s furious. Frederick Douglass’s fire is fully as much a part of the nation’s legacy as the Declaration of Independence, and it sheds great light upon it.
Here’s the text of the speech.
Here’s a video of James Earl Jones reading excerpts from it.
And up top is the full speech, read by Ossie Davis. Listening to it, I tried to imagine what it sounded like in 1852, in a country in which millions were lawfully enslaved, on a day celebrating freedom.
Thank you for posting this. Inspiring, but so sad that it is so relevant today.
Thank you.
What a wonderful tradition to read the Declaration of Independence at your Fourth of July celebration! And what a great addition you are making to it this year! Thank you for the inspiration.
Thanks for sharing, we still have a long way to go
Thank you for extending to us the the light of reality. We’ve adjusted our eyes to the darkness that we have so casually lived in for decades. I at 78years am sorrowed by the declarations of our greatness while others are denied . It is apparent that after some 40 years of teaching that I now find myself the student. But it appears that there are many absent in this setting with open minds seeking to move forward.
Succinct and elegant, you are so right on!!
Yes, wise words. I feel deep sorrow as well!
Wise words – my reality exactly. Thank you.
I appreciate this. Thanks.
Powerful. I appreciate your leadership and openness.
Bravo! Long time coming but let’s be the change.
Thank you so much. Our schooling is sadly lacking. I have shared this with my family and friends. No need to celebrate.
I have greatly benefited from your contributions towards enlightening my world and your honorable leading by example. My hopes are that you keep it up. This is a good road to travel. Marching forward with open hearted, thoughtful knitters is invigorating.
(PS – I am also walking the talk by shopping MDK 🙂
What a great tradition! I’m in the middle of David Blight’s book on Frederick Douglas and I highly recommend it. Thank you for sharing this.
Thank you for sharing this speech!
Thank you for sharing this information. Mr. Douglas certainly spoke his passionate truth. The website is full of information that asks me to explore more.
This is wonderful. Thank you.
What a powerful speech. Thank you Kay and Ann for leading us to it. While we all now wholeheartedly recognize that slavery was wrong then, now we must try to correct the wrongs we have wrought in its aftermath.
What a powerful speech! The history I learned in school was so lacking in reality – such a “white-washed” version of all the events that occurred. I am amazed and ashamed at how long it has taken our country to make the changes that are still needed to make the US fair and equal for all. We need to do better…
Highly recommend reading The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass by Douglass. Eleventh grade students read it at high schools where I taught in both Texas and New Mexico. It is stunning in content and skill.
Thank you so much for this, Carol. I just finished listening to the audiobook. Frederick Douglass’s narrative of his early life moved me deeply.
This we should all be taking to heart! Thank you for this, Kay, and for all MDK is doing to open our eyes.
I just emerged from following your links. Another something new to me…it only took 68 years…
(1776) THE DELETED PASSAGE OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
PRIMARY DOCUMENT
From BLACKPAST
Thanks. So fitting.
Thank you for this.
I AM IN AWE WITH THE LANGUAGE SPOKEN THEN BY FREDERICK DOUGLASS. Thank you for sharing the grandeur of the words chosen by such an admirable man. Growing up, I heard on many occasions how certain people’s IQ was limited. It was the limitation posed by others that limit the IQ in many. It is easy to take away gifts that many possess when in great numbers (Whites). So sad that it still exists today, 2020. I guess some cultures never learn to share and allow freedom which is so easily spoken of.
Thank you kindly for sharing this powerful message.
Excellent, Thank You!
Will we ever as a nation and planet ever give up on slavery, and oppression??
How can we not see the damage it does??
We have but one chance left to do what is right!
Will we summon the courage, each one of us, to stand for the change??
As a child of African American parents who were teachers, I learned this speech. I am 71 yrs old, I still remember every word. Thank you for your kindness, compassion and courage! I am truly grateful.
There are so many gifts that people possess and unless we allow them to nurture, we never know how their gifts can inspire others. Thanks for sharing the words of Frederick Douglass. May we be inspired to live better in these days where conflicts and divisions want to rule the day.
This is powerful. Thanks for posting.
You should watch the update of this by Daveed Diggs. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WuCeUyItpzE
Gail, this is just stunning to watch. And to have just seen Daveed Diggs in Hamilton last night makes this even more powerful and resonant.
Tomorrow, July 5th, I am one of 40 people who will present Frederick Douglas ‘ famous speech on our town square. I am so honored and humbled to be a participant. We have been a collective voice of advocacy for change. As i read the comments in this thread, i am also honored to be a part of this knitting community.
What a powerful experience.
Thank you for sharing this most rousing but sadly ever pertinent speech… When will we see change that is fair and sustained? In my lifetime I pray.
Thank you for making this eloquent speech available to your readers. I found it extremely gripping and haunting! I pray the day will soon come that equal justice and freedom from fear is here to stay in reality, not just lip service.
Thank you for leading us all to this speech, Ann and Kay. I am glad to be part of this knitting community. Good luck to my fellow knitter – Stephanie? – who is one of 40 people reading this aloud in her community today!
NPR has a video of descendants of Frederick Douglass reading parts of the speech and making their own comments. (don’t know how to make it an active link)
https://www.npr.org/2020/07/03/884832594/video-frederick-douglass-descendants-read-his-fourth-of-july-speech
Thanks for sharing your custom and this speech.
I just listened to Ossie Davis, and read along. It is not complete. There are several passages unread. I recommend reading the whole thing. It sure doesn’t make you very proud of our country. May this finally be the time we abolish systemic racism!
I’m also not proud or happy to have only learned of Douglass’ speech last year. What a whitewashed education we have had. NPR posted a video of his descendants reading this. Powerful and heartbreaking.
This country needs fixing.
Please unsubscribe me. This used to be a knitting site, but you have become too political for me. Political opinions are everywhere –I come to knitting places to escape this mad world around us. Thank you, but no thanks.
I liked President Trumps screech. Don,t take away our history our statues. We can’t go forward without history. It’s a disgrace what their doing. We came a long way, recognize it. No socialism.
I agree with Rita Ray. This site should stick to what is in its name – KNITTING.