Juneteenth has gained significant recognition and celebration among Black individuals, contrasting with feelings toward the Fourth of July. Celebrating Independence Day may seem insincere given the historical struggles faced by Black people. Frederick Douglass's speech emphasizes the perception of the Fourth of July as a symbol of injustice and exclusion for American slaves. The speech underscores that many Black individuals feel justified in opting out of such celebrations, seeking to prioritize rest and reflection instead.
"What, to the American slave, is your 4th of July? I answer: a day that reveals to him, more than all other days in the year, the gross injustice and cruelty to which he is the constant victim."
"To him, your celebration is a sham; your boasted liberty, an unholy license; your national greatness, swelling vanity; your sounds of rejoicing are empty and heartless; your denunciations of tyrants, brass fronted impudence; your shouts of liberty and equality, hollow mockery."
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