David W. Swanson

Pastor and Author

“the meaning of july fourth for the negro”

Given on July 5, 1852, Frederick Douglass’ famous speech, The Meaning of July Fourth for the Negro, is profound in many ways. Two excerpts:

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 denunciation of tyrants, brass fronted impudence; 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 which would disgrace a nation of savages.There is not a nation on the earth guilty of practices more shocking and bloody than are the people of the United States, at this very hour.

Allow me to say, in conclusion, notwithstanding the dark picture I have this day presented, of the state of the nation, I do not despair of this country. There are forces in operation which must inevitably work the downfall of slavery. “The arm of the Lord is not shortened,” and the doom of slavery is certain. I, therefore, leave off where I began, with hope.

He ends with a William Lloyd Garrison poem that, for the Christian, may be the most appropriate anthem on this Independence Day.

God speed the year of jubilee
The wide world o’er!
When from their galling chains set free,
Th’ oppress’d shall vilely bend the knee,
And wear the yoke of tyranny
Like brutes no more.
That year will come, and freedom’s reign,
To man his plundered rights again
Restore.

God speed the day when human blood
Shall cease to flow!
In every clime be understood,
The claims of human brotherhood,
And each return for evil, good,
Not blow for blow;
That day will come all feuds to end,
And change into a faithful friend
Each foe.

God speed the hour, the glorious hour,
When none on earth
Shall exercise a lordly power,
Nor in a tyrant’s presence cower;
But to all manhood’s stature tower,
By equal birth!
That hour will come, to each, to all,
And from his Prison-house, to thrall
Go forth.

Until that year, day, hour, arrive,
With head, and heart, and hand I’ll strive,
To break the rod, and rend the gyve,
The spoiler of his prey deprive —
So witness Heaven!
And never from my chosen post,
Whate’er the peril or the cost,
Be driven.

If you can, take a few minutes to read the entire speech.

David Swanson

2 responses to ““the meaning of july fourth for the negro””

  1. Keith Avatar
    Keith

    David: I’m curious as to why you posted this speach on Independence Day. I had not previously read anything by Douglas and am only vaguely aware of his place in American history (I believe he went to court to gain his freedom and lost). I was startled by his boldness, eloquence and how right he was.
    As you are not one to do something without reason, I’m wondering if you are you suggesting that Douglass’ 150 year old comments are still relevant today. If so, how?
    For several days I’ve considered his speach and how it might apply today. My thoughts have turned to illegal immigrants, primarily those from Central America. Douglass spoke of the economics of slavery and that America could withstand the economic “loss” from abolition. Today many argue we can’t give the illegals amnesty because we need them to labor at a wage below minimum but above slavery. While slaver was legal, it was (is) certainly wrong. Illegal immigration is illegal. Is it wrong? The Americans (in many cases) who hire them are also doing something illegal. Two wrongs doesn’t make a right. But which is doing something “more” illegal in the eyes of God? The one pursuing happiness in a new country in hope of supporting a family back home or the one taking advantage of an oppressed people for their own economic gain (and our benefit as I’m sure each of us benefits from illegals working cheaply).
    Until I read and pondered Douglass’ speach, I was certainly not in favor of amnesty for illegals. But it got me thinking. Again, what were you thinking when you posted?

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  2. David Avatar
    David

    Keith- I didn’t include commentary with the Douglass quote for a couple of reasons. First, the speech is so powerfully written that I didn’t want to distract from its poignancy with my own words. Second, the content of the speech was broad enough that it seemed likely to stir different reflections in different folks. To illustrate, I hadn’t made the connection with the current national debate about illegal immigration.

    I think what the speech raised for me was the reality that while for some the 4th of July is a day of celebration, for others the day carries much more nuanced memory and emotion. While it makes sense for nations to celebrate their birthdays, this speech was a reminder to me that Christians ought to enter such celebrations carefully, aware that there have been many throughout our history who have experienced much less than “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”

    As an aside, I appreciate the thoughts/questions you raise about immigration. I think these are the types of things American Christians should be wrestling with. It makes sense that we won’t always agree, but our opinions should look distinct from the standard party line (of either party) because our context for these opinions is completely different.

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