Throughout American history, there have been many incidents of oppression regarding the people of the United States especially African Americans. Frederick Douglass’ speech ‘What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?’ shows that The Declaration of Independence is not only historically important, but it also has faults. Both documents briefly discuss the British crown and freedom in both cases. But there are some similarities along with differences to look at within the two documents. Including more oppression and considering if the Fourth of July should be celebrated by African Americans throughout the United States of America. Alongside these two documents, there will be information on an FBI Program called Counterintelligence (COINTELPRO). These historical documents had an impact back then and even into today’s time, but the views of both Frederick Douglass's speech and The Declaration of Independence hold very high importance. Using both of these documents it will show the similarities and differences between the two along with non- white’s views on the Fourth of July.
Frederick Douglass opens his speech by introducing the Fourth of July and how this holiday speaks of political freedom and The Declaration of Independence is a whole document about freedom and detachment. “This, for the purpose of this celebration, is the 4th of July. It is the birthday of your National Independence, and of your political freedom” (Douglass, 1852). Proving that the day of independence is an important event in history. Both documents discuss the importance of Freedom. The Declaration of Independence shows that during that time the current king of Britain had his faults. As shown in the document they describe a list of things the King did wrong. “The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world” (The Declaration of Independence,1776). Through those facts the King of Britain is shown as not being very noble to the thirteen colonies, so they showed the general public what he did and how he was. Mr. Douglass also discusses the British crown in his article 'You were under the British Crown. Your fathers esteemed the English Government as the home government; and England as the fatherland. This home government, you know, although a considerable distance from your home, did, in the exercise of its parental prerogatives, impose upon its colonial children, such restraints, burdens, and limitations” ( Douglass, 1852). Proving that the British king put burdens upon the colonies and stopped the colonies from the actions they were trying to take within The Declaration of Independence. Both Frederick Douglass and The Declaration share the same views within these moments.
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In contrast, although Mr. Douglass praises the birthday of the Americas, he still does not fully agree with the definition of freedom for non-whites. “They believed in order; but not in the order of tyranny. With them, nothing was 'settled' that was not right. With them, justice, liberty and humanity were 'final;' not slavery and oppression” (Douglass, 1852). The Declaration of Independence indicates that all men are created equal but is this applied to non-whites. “Your high independence only reveals the immeasurable distance between us. The blessings in which you, this day, rejoice, are not enjoyed in common. The rich inheritance of justice, liberty, prosperity, and independence, bequeathed by your fathers, is shared by you, not by me” (Douglass, 1852). This view shows that the Declaration was not meant for all, but maybe for the White Americans. Mr. Douglass is proof that when he says in those words above this historical moment does not include the oppression of African Americans. Frederick Douglass continues about American slavery and how the slaves’ point of view was never including when the Declaration was made. The majority of both of these historical documents show that were plenty of differences and there should be changes.
Non-whites, as Frederick Douglass explains, are not considered in this day of independence “that the character and conduct of this nation never looked blacker to me than on this 4th of July! Whether we turn to the declarations of the past, or to the professions of the present, the conduct of the nation seems equally hideous and revolting” ( Douglass,1852). This explains why African Americans are not even considered free on America’s birthday. Mr. Douglass shows that non-whites should be free, but where is their freedom when the only words that can rarely be applied to African Americans are all men are created equal. Non-white Americans can view themselves as free in a sense that can do the same actions as White American can. “The Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, Assembled…That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States” (The Declaration of Independence,1776). This should be a sign that non-whites are free and should be part of this historical document. This leads to the oppression of non-white Americans, slavery within this time. “Oppression makes a wise man mad. Your fathers were wise men, and if they did not go mad, they became restive under this treatment. They felt themselves the victims of grievous wrongs, wholly incurable in their colonial capacity” (Douglass,1852). This statement can go both ways based upon the non-white Americans being oppressed. The non-whites were under horrific circumstances when going through slavery; they had no say and White Americans thought that was acceptable at the time. Non-white Americans have gone through too much unfairness. But is the Fourth of July a day non-white Americans should be celebrating? A quote from Mr.Douglass’ Speech says: “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” (Douglass,1852). This day of independence is for all the White Americans, but the non-white Americans had to fight for their rights. This holiday is not theirs and Frederick Douglass makes that clear throughout his speech speaking on the history of the Fourth of July.
Now looking at an FBI program called the Counterintelligence Program this begins back in the 1950s, 1956 to be exact. This program went against radical political groups. Parties like the Communist Party and they, later on, included the Ku Klux Klan. This program “was a series of covert, and often illegal, projects conducted by the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) aimed at spying on, infiltrating, discrediting, disrupting and destroying domestic organizations considered 'subversive'' (FBI COINTELPRO, 2019). This program shows that there were always spies around to look upon these groups doing political wrongs. The purpose was to protect those from any violence, this program provides security for those being affected. “Prevent dangerous, and even potentially deadly, acts against individuals, organizations, and institutions - both public and private - across the United States” (Pike,2000). Although some of the groups involved were not violent, they were still being watched by the FBI in case it was to happen. The objective of the Counter Intelligence program was made to prevent foreign hostile threats from emerging an attack towards the United States to stop domestic political agendas of hostile enemies. But since then this program ended in April of 1971, so there was not much left of the program.
In conclusion, The Declaration of Independence and Frederick Douglass's speech has plenty of similarities and differences and to this day things still need to change. There will always be oppression within Non-White Americans. So the Fourth of July may be an important day in history, but that does not mean that everyone can celebrate it. Also, the FBI may have run programs to help with security and violence, but they did do the job if it ended in the 1971’s. So, overall, we see the importance of the Fourth of July but there is so much more history behind that.
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