After reading Frederick Douglass's speech in "The Meaning of July Fourth for the Negro," my perspective on Independence Day as a whole has changed. Aptly stated in the name of the holiday, Independence Day celebrates the independence of the people of America, and this is a widely known fact. However not all people of this nation were allowed their independence. For example, the slaves living in the United States would not gain any benefits at all from this newfound American independence. In his speech, Douglass states, "The blessings in which you, this day, rejoice, are not enjoyed in common." While the white population was celebrating its freedom, the slaves were still being made to work and could not experience that freedom. A few years after Frederick Douglass's speech, the events of the Civil War occurred and the slaves were freed, finally gaining their independence.
In today's society, Independence Day has not changed too much. It is still celebrated on the Fourth of July and friends and family get together to have fun and light off fireworks. However, something still seems wrong with this beloved holiday. Most people just see it as a day to have fun and have work off. They don't recognize the significance of this important holiday. We are meant to celebrate what many of our ancestors worked so hard and died for: the freedom of this great nation from all others. A war was fought over the topic and America's side won out, but in the end many people still don't remember the sacrifice that is celebrated on that specific day.
I really enjoyed reading your post! I like how you talked about how ironic Independence Day was back then and now. It's important to remember why we even have Independence Day. I relate with the people you mention in Paragraph 2, not because I don't understand the importance of the holiday, but because I can't empathize with the soldiers. The my freedom today, but somehow I'm still not free?
ReplyDeleteI sympathize with the message you are conveying. We all see Independence Day as a break to have fun with friends and family while watching fireork displays in the sky, and not as much as a day to honor the lives of the soldiers that gave us our freedom. Frederick Douglass's speech still has so much merit after so many years because true equality still has not been reached.
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