Understanding Independence: The Meaning of the Fourth of July to Enslaved Black Americans

On July 5, 1852, Frederick Douglass delivered a powerful keynote at an Independence Day event, posing the poignant question, “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?” A formidable orator, Douglass often dedicated six months each year to lecturing on abolition. His address, held at Rochester’s Corinthian Hall to commemorate the Declaration of Independence, was strikingly critical. Douglass declared, “This Fourth of July is yours, not mine. You may rejoice; I must mourn.” He acknowledged the Founding Fathers, commending their dedication to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” Yet, he illuminated the hypocrisy of their ideals in light of slavery’s existence in America. He asked rhetorically if the principles of freedom extended to enslaved African Americans and expressed the burden of advocating gratitude for independence that largely benefitted others. Douglass lamented the vast inequalities, stating, “The blessings you celebrate are not shared in common.” Thus, he underscored the painful chasm between the celebrants and those who remain oppressed.