The Meaning of July 4 for the Negro Read By Ossie Davis (1975) | Frederick Douglass
On July 5th, 1852 Frederick Douglass spoke at Corinthian Hall in Rochester, New York on the significance of America’s Independence Day. Ossie Davis reads this speech, compiled by Phil Foner, which demonstrates Douglass’ incomparable skill in oration and commands respect for the legendary thinker and activist. Admitting to being embarrassed by the great "distance between this platform and the slave plantation, from which [he] escaped," Douglass proceeded to praise the "sublime faith in the great principles of justice and freedom" out of which the United States was born, while mourning the "sad sense of disparity" that even after national independence persists in keeping an "immeasurable distance between us" through the bonds of slavery. (The Emancipation Proclamation was not issued until 1863, and the 13th Amendment did not officially end slavery until 1865.) (Remastered and reiussed on SFW47006 The Oratory of Frederick Douglass.)
Shared for historical purposes. I do not own the rights.
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Who's here listening to this for the first time? July 4th 2020
And also after seeing and hearing Farrakhan speak today....
True words are timeless
Just watching this now...
I am
So sad I'm just listening to this in 2020.
What is so uncanny about this nearly 170 -year -old speech is that so many, if not all of the "inconsistencies" about America that Fredrick Douglas mentioned are still in existence.
@@lastlime3792 what????? So quick to insult and agitate but there isn't an ounce of substance in yours commentary. You sound presidential...really
Mochawitch, Hear, hear!
🤣😂👀she a racist 🤡
Times CHANGE; CERTAIN people DON'T
How TRUE!😐
Just listen to this man No WONDER there is still such fear of the truly educated Black person
A year ago, Frederick Douglass' great, great, great, great grandson said that at just 20-years old, 170-years after this speech, he feels exhausted and hopeless about truth rising above lies and hypocrisy. And now add to that, an insurrection to remind him he is right in his thought.
I PROMISE you I was getting ready to look this up when I got a notification. Thank you!!
Omg the same for me.😳
Very informative
This message was like a wake up call to me .. it's just a Powerful message i think everyone needs to hear no matter what color they are or where they come from.. Ossie Davis's voice was so powerful every word he said just Dru me in more and more. This is my first time hearing this message in July 2022 and I believe I'm going listen to it over and over again.
One of the greatest speeches ever written. I could only imagine the faces of the audience expecting boasting about this "great" nation only to be faced with such brutal honesty of a victim of their fake patriotism...... Powerful how Ossie Davis captured the energy and anger that I imagine was displayed by Frederick Douglass, the spirit of Douglass was alive and well on this day, and the host of this spirit was Mr. Davis!
Well they knew what they were going to get. Douglass was well known in Rochester and he was invited by the anti-slavery groups. It was basically cuing it up for him to take his swings. And yes, one of the greatest speeches ever!
America is the the best place for blacks and or anyone else to succeed. You should be thankful everyday for being born in this country.
Omg...I wished black Americans would wake up!!! I woke up in my teens concerning the 4th of July. Thanking my beloved mommy and the BPP.
I'm listening to this for the first time ever this day on July 4th, 2023...
DROPPED my ignorant beliefs about the 4th in the late '80's. SO so so glad.
I’m late. Didn’t know the truth till last year but came out of all pagan holidays a year before. So so so glad.
@@CodyCole80 GLAD THAT YOU HAVE AWAKENED YOUR 3 EYE. NOW YOU CAN SEE HOW MUCH YOU HAVE BEEN ESSENTIALLY EFFECTED BY THE WAY MELONATED BLACK PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TREATED FOR THE ENTIRE HISTORY OF THIS COUNTRY
Frederick Douglass was a profoundly amazing writer and orator. I love all of his works.. He was the embodiment of what a gentleman should be, and one of the most passionate abolitionists ever.
Fredrick and Ossie RIP Brothers! Our struggle continues. But we will press on. Your legacy lives on through us. Peace to our ancestors.
🙏🏿 🥀 😔 😢 💪🏿 ✊🏾
I Love My Culture. For My Black People.
@@afrikaqueen6855 ppplp
💯💯💯
Every American and every black person shld know and read Frederick Douglass
Amen !! Know About Mr. Douglas/first time hearing this speech. There is a book of his life,he told as a slave child the slave children were feed out of a trough like hogs. They would all gathering around on there knees and eat from the trough just like they feed the animals.
Terrible, so sad.
I read about him many years ago in African history class in NYC in the Bronx in the 5th grade
WOW! Frederick Douglass is speaking the absolute truth. Ossie Davis is so awesome.
Thank you for reminding me in the midst of racial unrest!!💜✊🏾
Yes sir! ✊🏽🙏🏽🌍💯☀️
I been reading this every 4th since i was a child. Frederick Douglass was a great man..
D Smith My first time.
@@lucinda9698 I think you should really check out his work
Listening now to this content and I shared this. I also watched live today Farrakhan on the Revolt. Thanks Reelblack👍🏼 Be Safe Everyone 🌏😷
I watched today too. I enjoy hearing truthful speeches. To see the faces of the people during and after this speech would be priceless!
July 10, 2023 listening to the speech and finding out how great of a man Frederick Douglass was in his life speaking against slavery.
Profound and relevant to today!
I'm saddened and heartbroken for the anguish that slaves had endured. I'm 45 year old and have always hoped for every human in the world be treated fairly. This speech by King Frederick Douglas is just as relevant today as it was 170 years ago.
"treated FAIR-ly" 😐
You guys are so INCREDIBLE, please continue your work,
I used to use this in the classroom. I guess that's why I'm not a teacher anymore...
This is everything. Then and now.
Ozzie embodied Frederick. ✊🏾
RIP Da Mayor!! Doing the Right Thing!!
Majestic
In 1966 I had a Heart Attack at 11 Years Old, born with a hole that never closed, I was born in Peoria Illinois, I was brought a Transistor Radio and listened to him and i was not able to go home on 4th of July, What A Great Day!
Well, Mr Frederick Douglas, July 4th, 2020 was finally canceled! ❤🖤💚
Here 2023 ' We shall not Celebrate ' Honor to our Ancestors 😢💪🏾
First time listening July 2 2023 Salute 🖤
S/O to Frederick Douglass Tru KING & a man who fought for his PPL so that they can be seen a human being's & not SLAVES 👑✊🏾‼️
DaviYah Ben Yiisra'el It seems as we as a people have forgotten, all I can do is SMH hoping that we one day we will open our eyes and see what's really going on. Because a lot of us want to forget what our ancestors had went and gone through.
@@sharonprry4939 THIS IS WHY IT'S IMPORTANT THAT ALL OF US AT SHARE THIS INFORMATION WITH THE WORLD OF FACEBOOK TOGETHER AND MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE WAKING OURSELVES UP WITH THE KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT OUR OWN GREAT GREAT GRANDPARENTS HAD TO ENDURE. WE ARE MADE IN OUR GOD IMAGE
@@GANGSTABANG So true my brother and thanks for responding
@@sharonprry4939 sorry I didn't reply right away my phone is show & I just got the notification but I totally agree wit you 💯% Queen real rap our ppl fought to hard 4 us to forget let alone our ABBA YHWH BAHASHAM HAMASHIACH YAHWASHI it's time we come back to the POWER who created us live by these BEAUTIFUL LAWS to best of our abilities read where our ancestors went wrong make a better way 4 the kids they are our future, LOVE, RESPECT OURSELVES AS IN OUR PPL THE LIST GOES ON
Ossie Davis is the OG of orators!!!!
The moment I read his text on “ what to the Slave is the 4 th of July,” I was hooked.
If unable to listen to this masterful, truthful speech in its entirety, I suggest starting at 35:10 thru conclusion. This should be required listening by all who purport to be Christians and prideful patriots of and those desiring citizenship to this land. Utterly profound.
THANK YOU SO MUCH!
As if the words themselves are not a sweeping indictment of the past that still springs truth in 2023, Ossie Davis has a way of introducing the vigor and passionate plea and insight that causes the listener to face either shame, conviction or/and comfort.
Man that was a standing ovation 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
👏👏👏👏👏 as my tears rolls down my face….👏👏👏
I went to the Holocaust museum in DC a few months back because my GF's friend was in town. I never wanted to go because its a hypocrisy but they wanted to go. People kept saying how sad it would be and heartbreaking. I was thinking the whole time: How the F are these people crying over something in Germany, but refused to recognize the same atrocities were happening on US AT THE SAME TIME!?
Before there was a, "I Had A Dream Speech" by Dr. King, there was "The Meaning of July 4th for the Negro" by Frederick Douglass. I love Harriet Tubman, but this is why Frederick Douglass, our first civil rights leader, needs to be on the $20.00 dollar bill. What was true then still holds true today. We hold these words to be true.
Margaret McCall You go Miss McCall
@@PhaylynMHunt 🙏
What ever happened to Harriet Tubman being on money? Wasn’t that being talked about just a while back?
@@tenchu0siris the mint had agreed to allow that change, but it would not be all at once. Andrew Jackson would remain on one side and Harriet Tubman would be on the back. I feel very strongly Frederick Douglass should have been the first consideration for that honor because he was the first voice of black people in this country. Harriet Tubman was a strong force in the Woman's Movement, so a lot of women prefer her versus anyone else. Trump alledgely repealed that order, so we will see what happens.
Its easier to put a black women up than a black man in this nation. America is defensive about its past.
This truth should have been spoken to the whole of black America. And in deed to the entire black WORLD!! Thank you. My family and i are now even more determined to get the truth of black America's EXPERIENCE out to the 🌎.
My great uncle was Benjamin Oliver Davis Jr. "THE LEGENDS OF AIRPOWER" is a very good documentary to refer to , on his accomplishments and contributions to this Country and it's space/time development , evolution and continuation, as. it. were. ( Hope this assists you somewhat and in some relevant aspect of your declared and respectable AND appreciated "mission statement" thank you😑
Greetings family, I have read or listened to this piece for several years now on the 4th of July. I am in agreement both in word and practice that it is a day of morning. I'm a elder now and I have witnessed progress. What is a source of sadness for me is that the majority of us still celebrate the 4th of July. I fear no change in my life time. ☮️🖤B1
Not enough has changed!
Ossie’s voice is just such a perfect. His subject is still true today in 2020. This country was built on our backs.
This has to be the greatest speech ever. Can you feel the passion? Ozzie did a wonderful job but I bet Mr. Douglas was even more passionate. Mr. Douglas was a slave. He experienced and saw with his own eyes the brutality of slavery. I have two masters and I cannot comprehend writing such a brilliant speech. The spirit of our ancestors.
Thank you for sharing this.👩🏾💻🤎
The u.s. is young but its heritage is mature. For it is the child of Europe, and Europe taught its children well, the concepts of racism. Like a good child, the u.s. listened well, and evolved its strategies to execute those concepts.
Oh my God! This is my first time hearing these powerful words I will not forget them
Watched Minister this morning and now am going to listen to this for the 2nd time back to back, and take sum 📝
I like to refer to it as the 4th of "You Lie"...
"Now You Said A Mouthful!! 💪🏿 ✊🏾
Simply brilliant! Evergreen!
Listening 2023
Thank God Almighty for this truth of black American history that have not been taught to you ,me and our children, children's children. 2020 is the year of 2020 vision,yes! Vision works this year,our youth have seen,saw and witness , what we as the ancesters fail to protest about injustice, education,proverty,deasease,and economics. The Bible says and the child will lead...👏👏👏 The children are not our future they're our present🤷
I was blessed to have had an African American teacher in 5th grade that taught us African American history
"When you know better, you do better." Some of us are more enlightened of more of our history, or ignited into seeking out more of our history due to the recent uprising of the world at this time, but we mustn't beat ourselves up for not seeking this knowledge before now, as trying to survive the day to day racial inequalities is a major task. We are doing better!
✊🏿✊🏿✊🏿
True
thank you
PowerFul!!!!!!!!!Thank You!
Listen to these words EVERY JULY 3rd to remember ALWAYS that the CONSEQUENCES and DESIRES OF THE " DAY AFTER " MEANS ALL THE WORST FOR ME AND THOSE LIKE ME.
I don't know if my family celebrated the 4th but I do know growing up my parents made sure we had a childhood going places and having picnics with family !! 💖I thank them for it...........
Big hugs to everyone
Pravo, such passion, as I sat in my car on the way home from work, I felt like I was sitting in the Hall actually attending the oration.
On this day, I will take a knee.
One of the heroic and historic speeches I listened from my historical necessities and enquires for human equality.
I have not and will never celebrate July 4th until all Americans are treated equal. I mean, truly equal whereas racial hate and racism against people of color becomes the the main disqualifier when hiring in law enforcement agencies and departments, judge appointments, and lawmaking leadership at all levels of government... and the immedate firing and criminal prosecution for anyone in these positions - who were caught criminalizing people of color because of racial profiling - becomes policy and law. ALL Americans are entitled to freedom of liberty and the pursuit of happiness, not just a chosen few.
@S.Y. Nelson I listened to the speech completely to the end. Frederick Douglas stated the same issues and posed the same questions the BLM founders and protesters address today. Seems like things haven't changed much at all. Douglas was very brave to make that speech.
Powerful.
I'm listening for the 1st time in 2021 although I stopped celebrating July 4th last year! I'm woke now ✊🏽
I'm 57 years old, and I'd stopped at the age of 30 yrs old
I'm baffled as to how all these imperative information has been hiding.
2023,I'm here!!!
I haven't celebrated the 4th in 10yrs...thank you for this!!
I will give 100 percent honor to July 4th, also known as America's Independence Day when we as Black Americans receive our overdue Reparation. Until then, it will be just another day off from work. Just keeping it real, from a Black American Man's opinion.
Well I tricked them real good. I get my reparations check every month from my retirement. My retirement reparation check paid for my house my Automobiles my vacations AND Medical. When you are young you must find ways to fight the system. I was fortunate not to wait on reparations I went ahead and made my reparation. Like James Brown said I don't want nobody to give me nothing open up the door and I'll get it myself.
This is one of the greatest speeches l have ever heard,l felt so much sincerity and honesty in the writing of fredrick douglas and the spiritually awaking soul felt voice of ossie davis.
This is my first time hearing this powerful message. It "saddens" me that a race could be so cold hearted and non emotional when it comes to a human race. I am so grateful that God can break "every chain." Let us not forget what Africans went through when they landed in the United States of America. Kudos to Frederick Douglas for this powerful writting!
I believe Mr. Douglas knew we were Israelites as well...Mr Davis did this great justice.
Truth and Facts the U.S. is the Greatest example of a nation of hipocracy. The great orator/actor Ossie Davis was and is the best to repeat Fredrick Douglas great speech of the July 4th sham.
Fredric was the activist of his day and is underrated. They should make it part of school curriculum at least one of his books
It’s just very good to really know African history!!!!!!
Amazing speech and amazingly read by the great Mr. Ozzie Davis!!! I watched the Lena Horne documentary before listening to this and it makes me deeply saddened to think of the pain, suffering and ongoing terror that my Black Family have to endure (and will continue to) while carrying themselves with grace and humility as this process is revisited by US citizens and community while we deal with the ugly truths of our nation! Bless Up all that understand and persevere through these massive challenges!!!!
Amen
Today would be a good day to listen to Frederick Douglass, intoned compellingly by Ossie Davis. (The recording is a little skippy, but ignore that.)
I feel almost breathless after listening to this.
Very powerful..I never heard this until now..(2020) should've heard this alot sooner, but glad I finally have.
Powerful truthful speech.
Thank you, so good to hear these words and gain knowledge.
10:19 Beast Mode 🔥
It amazes me that the same issues that made us fight for freedom from slavery are the same issues that continue today. Thou there are many of us that are conscious, there are still many who are continuing to crave for the state of slavery and don't even know they are doing it.
💯
Needed this today. Incredible words of truth and faith for future changes.
Listening July,5th, 2023
I have been listening to this every year since I heard it on The Tony Brown show on PBS in the 1980s.
I have always loved his speech. It is so delicately and profoundly spoken it attracts your attention and entices you to listen to what he has to say.
Remember the public affairs tv show Like It Is? Gil Noble would air a theatrical reading of this speech every year.
Here's how much of a boss Frederick Douglass was: he was asked to give a speech at a fairly standard Independence Day celebration (albeit one held by abolitionists), to be held, as you would expect, on July 4th. He was like, "No, I'll do it on the 5th." And the white people organizing this event were like, "Frederick Douglass wants to give his 4th of July speech on the 5th, well I guess we're doing this on the 5th." The man literally got them to *change the date* of their "4th of July" picnic *just* to tell them how much bullshit the 4th of July was.
A boss??!!???? What? He was a slave!
@@Mrpachuko13 To paraphrase the man himself: he was a thief and robber, who stole his head and limbs and body from his master and ran off with them. If that doesn't make someone a boss, I don't know what does.
Love this
Thank you
Thank you REELBACK for your posting meaningful content. I've learned from and enjoyed everything I've viewed. Have a blessed week.
I don't celebrate this day knowing my ancestors were slaves while America celebrated their independence.
❤️🖤💚✊🏿
✊🏾✊🏾✊🏾✊🏾
Amen. Selah. Eyes have not seen. Ears have not heard. And, the souls have not felt: " The Revolution of The Revelation "
There is so much to learn and to understand about those before us, who "stood", and because they endured, prevailed and never gave up. We are. We must too , stand, learn and educate and co to use to " rise"- never being way laid, set aside! I would so very like to see our talent in entertainment, writing, producing, find creative media for great speeches like Douglas, creatively interpreted and given to our children in every school.. So that it become a "part" of them- defining and uniting us in our history and pride.
What a phenomenal execution of a heavy, eye-opening discourse. Your tone carried with it such strength and vigor that it evoked a passion I have never felt when reading. I thank you for your wonderful contribution to this piece. Bravo!
I will never see myself through the eyes of the white man
I would love to know more regarding how people reacted to the speech the people who were there.
Them: 😐
Not much need to see it. Look around now. Listen to them now. This isn't new. This is America.
Given the time when this speech was given, they..the people reacted then, like they are reacting now, except then 100 times worse.
This is amazing, just finished reading an autobiography of Douglass, so coming across a reading of the actual speech, feels like a wonderful moment of serendipity.