Fredrick Douglass Argument in "What to the Slave is the Forth of July?"
The nature of Fredrick Douglass’ argument in “What To the Slave Is the Forth of July?” clearly demonstrates to us readers and to his audience that he has a masterful way of conveying his message and rallying a group around his point. He had a brilliant way of captivating his audience and opening them up to what he has to say, while at the same time critiquing an entire nation’s bad habits, in a way that did not turn the listener off to the point of distaste. He got his point across in a very clear articulate manner without ever coming across angrier than an upset yet stern father. Douglass was largely able to do this through contrasting points of view. He could compare and contrast vantage points to make the listener feel included and also understand where he was coming from. It is especially evident in his introduction, where he establishes a humbling camaraderie with the audience, in “The present” where he question his own authenticity as a speaker on the day of America’s independence, and in “The Internal Slave Trade,” where he creates a vast separation from the listeners. I’m sure after leaving one of Fredrick Douglass speeches; it was hard to feel like we’re not completely on his side. In a very heated time in American history, just before the civil war, with the nation spilt in two over the issue of slavery, Fredrick Douglas had the daunting task of speaking in front of a well-to-do predominately white crowd on the Fourth of July. As present day Americans, we know the importance of this day; we know that after a long war with the British, this was a glorious day celebrating a time in which our founding fathers declared freedom from the oppression of British rule. Taking all of this into account, Douglass had to let the audience know the emotions that he was feeling. “I do not remember ever to have appeared as a speaker before any assembly more shrinkingly, nor with greater distrust in my ability, than I do this day.” (2102) Douglass doesn’t