Frederick Douglas on the 4th of July

WHAT TO THE SLAVE IS THE FOURTH 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 DENUCIATION OF TYRANTS BRASS FRONTED IMPUDENCE; YOUR SHOUTS OF LIBERTY AND EQUALITY, HOLLOW MOCKERY; YOUR PRAYERS AND HYMNS, YOUR SERMONS AND THNAKSGIVINGS, WITH ALL YOUR RELIGIOUS PARADE, AND SOLEMNITY, ARE TO HIM, MERE BOMAST, 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. "GO WHERE YOU MAY, SEARCH WHERE YOU WILL, ROAM THROUGH ALL THE MONARCHIES AND DESPOTISMS OF THE OLD WORLD, TRAVEL THROUGH SOUTH AMERICA, SEARCH OUT EVERY ABUSE, AND WHEN YOU HAVE FOUND THE LAST, LAY YOUR FACTS BY THE SIDE OF THE EVERYDAY PRACTICES OF THIS NATION, AND YOU WILL SAY WITH ME, THAT FOR REVOLTING BARBARITY AND SHAMELESS HYPOCRISY, AMERICA REIGNS WITHOUT RIVAL." - FREDERICK DOUGLASS, 5 JULY 1852