"What to the Slave Is the 4th of July?": James Earl Jones Reads Frederick Douglass's Historic Speech

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In a July Fourth special broadcast, we share the words of Frederick Douglass as read by actor James Earl Jones. Born into slavery around 1818, Douglass became a key leader of the abolitionist movement. On July 5, 1852, in Rochester, New York, Douglass gave one of his most famous speeches, "What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?" He was addressing the Rochester Ladies' Anti-Slavery Society and questioned how enslaved people could possibly celebrate U.S. Independence Day when they were kept in bondage by that same country. James Earl Jones read the historic address during a performance of "Voices of a People's History of the United States," which was co-edited by Howard Zinn. The late great historian introduced the address.
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Опубликовано:

3 июл 2022

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Комментарии : 439

@marcusbaker404 19 дней назад

Back for 2024. Come and hear this every year on July 4th. Keeping in perspective.

@alanfite333 17 дней назад

Fredrick Douglass was a towering intellect and great speaker.

@melissaburke3818 18 дней назад

What a courageous, bold soul he was. These words are too powerful for (my) words. Mr. Jones performed most admirably❤️

@raquelmascara6382 19 дней назад

Sadly Still Extremely Relevant 2024!!

@pcg1276 2 года назад

My god, it was like listening to Frederick Douglas himself through the gift of a talented actor James Earl Jones.

@barbarastewart8066 16 дней назад

Bless this man, bless his gift in speaking and acting. Bless this most needed educational piece of great History, Mr. Frederick Douglas.

@saphiquefemme 2 года назад

I stopped celebrating the 4th of July after learning about slavery in grade school. I never understood how America was a free nation when slaves who fought in the American Revolution were still slaves and weren't truly free after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed in 1863 and civil rights not acknowledged or respected even after 1968. We're still fighting for equality.

@TruthSeeker30_ 2 года назад

People were still slaves in rural areas in certain states like Louisiana until the 1960’s. They did everything to keep information from them.

@tuckerbugeater 2 года назад

@@goldness6667 So what? Go to Liberia like they had planned for you. Judicial activism and the 14th/15th amendments overruled white democracy. This will always be a white democracy.

@blakebortles6098 2 года назад

@@TruthSeeker30_ freed blk ppl had slaves as did native tribes

@tschorsch 2 года назад

@@blakebortles6098 your using typical right-wing deflection

@blakebortles6098 2 года назад

@@tschorsch hidden history

@winging2458 2 года назад

Only the Great actor, James Earl Jones could have delivered the voice of Frederick Douglass so POWERFULLY‼️‼️ The words rang true then and are still potent‼️💯💯

@robertgowdey 2 года назад

Dennis Haysbert

@winging2458 2 года назад

@@robertgowdey AGREED..... He, also would have done a powerful delivery. It's the timbre of their voices that deliver the passion. Evokes the fire of Mr. Douglass....palpable 🔥 🔥🔥🔥🔥

@ArceeStarFan 2 года назад

And till to this day he still plays Darth Vader in the Star wars series and Obi wan kenobi series.

@sjbock 2 года назад

Too bad James Earl Jones is a Republican. He lost my respect.

@dayegilharno4988 2 года назад

@@sjbock If he was what nowadays passes for a Republican, he would have refused to even touch this...

@Dot-Dot-Dash 2 года назад

Wow! What a wonderful speech by one of the country's best voices!!!

@plushtown29 16 дней назад

Dear thinking person, what’s your opinion of Adam Smith’s first maxim of taxation in 1776’s Wealth of Nations, that citizens should contribute to paying the State’s bills proportionally to their revenue gained under protection of the State, as members of a great estate share its bills proportionally to their participation in it, and then 18 pages later: the very, very “rich should pay even MORE than in that proportion” ?? (u. Chicago 1976 ed, v 2 pp 350 & 368, my caps). Relief money gets SPENT, making investments profitable, especially to the .001%, but they won’t see it that way. They’re nobility, and nobility always feel they’re too important to tax, ignoring that they’re too important NOT to tax. Because, humans.: Also, Dems should cite Founders, Presidents, and Paine on dangers of corporate and inherited massive (and massing) POWER. The Heritage Foundation etc are LYING, traitorous, CRIMINALS. They do not argue in good faith.

@Dot-Dot-Dash 16 дней назад

@@plushtown29 Agree.

@marthajackson3773 19 дней назад

The struggle and challenges are still alive today!!

@antoinettewooten5561 10 дней назад

Indeed!

@emceeunderdogrising 2 года назад

My only 4th of July tradition is listening to this speech. I really wish James Earl Jones was able to play Frederick Douglass. He fits his description almost to a tee. The lion of speech.

@really2345 2 года назад

So few people will watch, listen to, and understand these words.

@Aj_470 2 года назад

One person can make a change. Be the change...

@Diana1000Smiles 2 года назад

How many are smart as you? 😳

@bold810 8 месяцев назад

Frederick Douglass spoke Truths.

@rodneyrobinson1042 19 дней назад

Agreed

@nickthompson1812 2 года назад

Damn, I’ve never heard this speech before today. Pretty powerful speech.

@NellieKAdaba 2 года назад

I think, me neither.

@KittyKat-vb1nd Год назад

@@NellieKAdabaBy design

@PhonicsInspiredbyMarvaCollins 19 дней назад

…and this is merely a fraction of the speech.

@vicratlhead2228 2 года назад

Goddamn, James Earl Jones has the most powerful voice of all time. So much gravitas.

@jordanreeves6008 2 месяца назад

basically talks about revolution

@JarodFarrant 23 дня назад

I agree

@JarodFarrant 23 дня назад

@@jordanreeves6008excellent viva Revolution!

@rodneyrobinson1042 19 дней назад

Matthew6:33NKJV1st James4:11-17NLT Especially 11-12,17* Exodus20:4 and 7NIV Happy 4th of July 🇺🇸 indeed!

@cornellhoward3757 13 дней назад

Please learn for your sake, don't use GOD'S name in vain; profanity vulgarity ALMIGHTY GOD detest. Repent!

@cynthiathomas9255 16 дней назад

Fredrick Douglas spoke the truth about the Fourth of July

@sedgwickmcalaster7785 2 года назад

Those words were appropriate THEN AND NOW 🇺🇸

@donaldsmith5972 2 года назад

Sadly, those powerful words ring true today.

@pdawwg08 2 года назад

This is such a beautiful speech, that would spark in the hearts of its listeners a fire to abolish slavery. May it spark a fire in the hearts of abolitionists today as well!

@alanme5752 2 года назад

That's nothing what Jesus Christ say about the White Race (Aryans) but that was "Outstanding" and you know what it's Nornal that they thought that? And the white Race still fool many today saying "Hilter was Evil" they even call themselves Nazis to this day? Same Race but just spelled a different way? You can't make this up?

@Diana1000Smiles 2 года назад

I loved it, too. ❤

@Yvqi72 Год назад

It does long live communism

@curtis2299 Год назад

Beautiful? It wasn’t intended to be.

@melindalivas1574 11 месяцев назад

@@curtis2299😊😊😊😊

@andrewanderson1054 Год назад

I think that all of our sleeping people needs to hear that speech more than once. I for one don't celebrate it nor acknowledge the so-called independence day because I know it's not of my people nor for my people.

@sammor2 Год назад

What they said drop the 🎤

@diankreczmer6595 2 года назад

Powerful speach !

@laurabartoletti6412 2 года назад

James Earl Jones is so eloquent a speaker! A great actor! ...." Luke, I am your father" ..... cool voice!! 🦅

@melaniemurray6539 Год назад

The entire speech is close to 20 pages and EVERY WORD is worth reading. This is merely a small part, performed beautifully by Jones, but the entire speech is even more incredible.

@ulyssesgrant2782 11 месяцев назад

Amen!

@user-zg6xg2jx3n 7 месяцев назад

Outstanding comment. I was about to say, I remember the speech being much longer, and while everything he said was in this video the speech was edited to reflect a specific political spectrum in our modern environment... To read the word of Frederick Douglass one should take in his fine understanding off human evolution... Here is a quote ,"These gentlemen brought their respect for the law with them and proclaimed it loudly while in the very act of breaking the law. Theirs was the law of slavery. The law of free speech and the law for the protection of public meetings they trampled under foot, while they greatly magnified the law of slavery.(Frederick Douglass)"... That being said, the elite will always self rationalize their need for indentured servitude of all human beings regardless of race, culture or color. The formula is simple.. I have power you do not.... Progress to these individuals require indentured servitude... Hence the label Progressive...

@scottstarboard 7 месяцев назад

Frederick Douglass was my 1st school teacher. It's funny how you DEMOCRATS try to use my teacher's words as a perversion to justify your backwards leftist ideology. This speech Professor Douglass spoke was BEFORE the Republicans ended slavery. NOW.. Try to read Douglass's speeches about CELEBRATING the 4th of July YEARS AFTER Republicans ended slavery.

@melissathomas2314 2 года назад

I have not celebrated 4th of July for years now. Unfortunately, not for this reason but I've lost interest in fireworks and recently America is a disappointment for most. But now, I have another noble reason to refrain.

@justmyopinion9883 2 года назад

This is a very moving, powerful speech. Thank you for sharing it today, July 4, 2022.

@rickrecord986 Год назад

This speech should be required study, review and curriculum in every HS and College History class!

@lorrainefranchi9105 2 года назад

His speech cuts directly to the heart of the matter so eloquently and powerfully. What a great man he was!

@robsanz9746 2 года назад

"The late,great Howard Zinn." So True. 💜

@harntheory5572 2 года назад

Love Zinn & Jones... and outspoken truth tellers like Douglas.

@NellieKAdaba 2 года назад

Love them too.

@robertosborne8694 2 года назад

Since I came upon this speech several years ago on a Democracy Now 7/4 broadcast, this has become mandatory listening on this “holiday”. The more I read and listen to the history of the beginnings of this country, the more I am coming to the conclusion that the “ Founding Fathers” used the flowery language of freedom to set up a country to look after and protect their own self interests. True, courage was needed in facing down the greatest empire on earth at the time, and these men took great risk to themselves in doing so, but let us not fool ourselves into believing their motives were entirely pure, or that the liberty they talk about extended past white, land-owning, men. Today we are witnessing a movement to suppress any rendering of history other than the national creation mythology, so that white people like me can feel good about themselves and their country . Believe me I’ve stopped buying into this years ago

@whygohome172 2 года назад

I'm white and the racist are SO EMBARRASSING! IT'S HARD TO BE PROUD OF BEING WHITE WHEN I ENCOUNTER THE IGNORANCE OF RASCISM! They need a mega dose of DMT!

@justmyopinion9883 2 года назад

Robert Osborne, thank you. Well said.

@ronofficial5958 2 года назад

One down, millions to go, still. We need to pass these words on to the whole United States of America. Maybe they too can make good sense of a wonderfully written and orated masterpiece.

@1m2rich 2 года назад

The founders freed us of the British king and rule. They risked their lives, family, wealth and future. Each step a goal toward a more perfect union. How many leaders do that today for any thing? They wanted better for us and their children. Many died in the Civil War for your freedom. My family fought in it. Get busy and keep up the fight for democracy. Robert you are needed now to save our democracy. If we lose, you lose too. Especially black women and families.

@Firstand25toLife Год назад

Frederick Douglass admired the founding fathers. Wrote about it over and over.

@jacewoods411 2 года назад

James Earl Jones's voice reverberates 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

@eleSDSU 2 года назад

Amazing speech! I often ask people "what are they celebrating exactly?", I never get answers.

@Diana1000Smiles 2 года назад

Americans are able to complain about everything without getting arrested and jailed.

@thebrotherfromanotherplane297 2 года назад

@@danialhillmann5374 Oh... how nice; but what about the blacks that were in bandage? Where was their freedom and independence back then? 🤔 Such fraudulent patriotism of lies. 👎🏾

@john-thomasmanion.benefici4688 2 года назад

@@danialhillmann5374 the 4th of July really is Insurrection day

@DV-dt9sq 2 года назад

@asdLArs: You see...you didn't get one now, eather. ;) First one didn't finish and write independence from whom, and the other one the same basically. I know it (without consulting wikipedia ahaha...and I am not usa citizen thankfully).

@vic5015 2 года назад

@@danialhillmann5374 sure, for white men.

@Apoxonbothyourhouses 2 года назад

What an amazing, charismatic leader. I still reread his work; his life story moves the earth.

@beammeier4997 2 года назад

Powerful work by Douglas and excellent reading by Jones

@hamidsalehi7106 2 года назад

I wish we had more man like him.

@tigerlilly9038 Год назад

What a beautiful gift of work this is. ❤

@anthonyspencer4747 Год назад

No Liberty… No peace. Still living in the hypocrisy of this American celebration for, the White population only, serves no purpose for me, except to remind me that though my ancestors built a new society of and for immigrants of which I will never 5:44 completely possess.

@willielittle9301 Год назад

Very timely speech today as a result of recent events affecting the African American citizens of America today in 2023...

@bjlyon615 2 года назад

We proclaim to stand for freedom and justice for all. How’s that going? Just ask Julian Assange.

@jenwendy7 2 года назад

Julian 💔

@TruthSeeker30_ 2 года назад

Big media doesn’t even cover it. Shocking

@eleSDSU 2 года назад

I'm not going to opine on Assange, but the US has a long history of protecting and abetting war criminals, those proclamations were always bullshit.

@Dominic-kp7mb 17 дней назад

I had to look him up. This should be way bigger.

@mider-spanman5577 Год назад

It's crazy because James Earl Jones's voice is almost identical to my mind's version of Frederick Douglass's voice.

@JohnThomas-li2vi 2 года назад

The more things change the more they remain the same. Whether you all want to admitt it or not, it's time for the sons and daughters of slaves to kick it up a notch and think about a separate territory of our own somewhere on the earth that we can call our own. We did not come this far to remain in the masters home under his rule, when the procession of time is telling us it is time to rule ourselves. It seems that many have become extremely comfortable in the home of our open enemy. But that comfortability is being challenged very seriously each and every day. You'll be lucky to see another 5 fourth of July's. So prepare to organize yourselves and do for yourselves what other nations are doing for themselves. For this is survival time. And please dont anyone jump up say God will take care of it. Just food for thought, stay safe in these final days and time. For us relying on the white American government to continue to provide jobs, food, housing and careers for us is just about over. Peace and love.

@camarama2279 19 дней назад

My 4th of July tradition is watching this.

@elel7113 2 года назад

i love Fredrick Douglas and James Earl Jones

@Lennoxx901 11 месяцев назад

Fate sent me here.. Fredrick Douglass ... all it took as a kid it to hear one sentence from him that impacted me so greatly, that I live by everyday now at 47.. the sentence is.. without struggle, there will be, "is" no progress.. Old school, Portuguese, Brazilian with the complete old school upbringing, I have always gravitated to strong speakers, that have lived through very hard times. ..I have nothing but respect for this man right here.. I thank him , for sharing his views.. Malcolm X.. is another one of the greats but that's another story.. thank you and james earl jones is a legend..

@alanmorris7669 11 месяцев назад

Beautifully written, Beautifully delivered

@user-xm5le5ok2r 18 дней назад

So eloquent and true!

@equarles8825 2 года назад

Exactly!

@audreysmith7236 2 года назад

Encore Encore Fred & Earl!

@Ianpact 2 года назад

Thank you, Amy Goodman and DN! crew.

@dangood8470 2 года назад

This was the original Critical Race Theory. But let us be honest: it is a moving reminder.

@curtis2299 Год назад

So right! The definition of!

@SLFinSF Год назад

Frederick Douglass was one of the baddest of bad asses. He was an incredibly fine writer -- had a true gift. Alas, we cannot hear his oratorical style, his voice. But IMAGINE making this speech to a group of free, white people -- even if they were northeastern white people who were in sympathy with freedom for the slaves. This was YEARS before the Civil War! Douglass could NEVER have imagined at this point that in a little more than a decade, a U.S. president would declare slavery illegal. Again, can we even begin to IMAGINE THE COURAGE Douglass had?

@estherphelps3606 19 дней назад

🎉my father didn't want to celebrate this day but he wanted us to enjoy with friends

@adamgorelick3714 2 года назад

That Douglas's blazing truth still sounds prophetic stands as testament to the great man and damnation to a people and nation that has never matured out of the crucible of sulfurous history and dormant greatness - potential that only sees light when we face our own darkness.

@BryantJohnsonsimbalion45 7 дней назад

Profoundness and Relevance, indeed to this very day!

@michaelpcoffee Год назад

That's when the seeds of a nation of free individuals were sown.

@RechtmanDon 2 года назад

Let's not forget to also inquire of Leonard Peltier's perspective of July 4...

@donnahill7531 Месяц назад

So wonderful!

@charlesmaddox8551 14 дней назад

this is a reminder every year Ill come back to. Fredrick would be about 2 to 3 great grandfathers time away from me, the older I get, the more I realize it was not that long ago.

@trinjuwan4422 15 дней назад

This is the 1st time I heard this speech, but because my ppl still bear the scars of slavery over a century later, I cannot rejoice on this nationally celebrated holiday.

@emiproperty2041 2 года назад

Powerful

@oliviamonteque6407 2 года назад

Wonderful voice!

@softspokenstamps9197 Год назад

Wow! Wow! Wow! What can you say after that?! Wow! And Amen goes right there!

@fellsmoke 2 года назад

This is the land of doublespeak

@stevenlindsay7346 15 дней назад

This was a very moving speech. I've celebrated the 4th as a child, but when I became more knowledgeable about the history of the US, I couldn't anymore. This is a great nation, and I'm blessed to live here, but until this government face up to its dark past and makes reparations for its crimes, I'll be content to just silently watch the fireworks.

@DuvJones Год назад

The work remains unfinished.

@np_management1931 14 дней назад

The crazy thing i stopped celebrating the HElladays a long time ago, especially hearing the truth behind thanksgiving gave me chills sickening me to my stomach. This is the first time ever hearing this speech, thank you

@masterkey7368 2 года назад

It could not have been better said than that!!!

@eugenehamby7167 2 года назад

I've clashed with you a few times Amy but I have agreed with you even more as they have said that no one agrees with someone 100% of the time because if you do then something is wrong but once again I have agreed with you even more God Bless You.

@anthonylucas9043 19 дней назад

Love

@maryh-w8647 Год назад

I have no words to say that would adequately give the praise and credence to both Mr. Douglas nor Mr Jones for this speech, its magnificent words brought back to life by such a powerful auditory. Thank you both, Thank You God!

@toddhayes3506 17 дней назад

God Bless James Earl Jones

@peterburandt4586 2 года назад

Still very relevant today.

@danideens 2 года назад

Well done JEJ. But the cold hearted in-humans are not even slightly moved by such brave and bitterly severe speech from one of the finest and most no nonsense black intellectuals of the day, making a mockery of their empty and deceptive invitation.

@ojibberwe7079 2 года назад

That was a pathetic attempt at sounding like an intellectual, while actually proving the opposite. Best of luck with your delusions.

@noelcreary7210 Год назад

GREAT speech I have seen it a few times.

@YosefTesfay 2 года назад

Excellent speech!

@MrApw2011 16 дней назад

If you abuse people enough, some of them will adopt the strategy of trying to be "good enough", perfect, in order to not be abused. Some of them will accept and tolerate a level of abuse that is less than they would have if they stood up and decried the abuse. This is what you see in narcissistic victims where women (and sometimes men) look like the crazy one when it's their partner who is abusing them but then when they finally crack, it's just evidence that they deserved it. I am thankful for people like Fredrick Douglas who spoke the truth from the start to the finish. He was Lincoln's friend and influenced the emancipation proclamation. Yet, he could not convince Lincoln to grant full equality to the freed slave as Lincoln believed the "country isn't ready for that." Do you remember when we debated whether the country was "ready for" a Black president? We had this debate in my lifetime and yet people still think that things are equal.

@roxannevlogs7329 2 года назад

Powerful 🙌🏼🇺🇸

@hamidsalehi7106 2 года назад

He is a one good man.

@nathalieduverna6963 Год назад

As I watched so many of us wear red white and blue I thought of this speech. This was more detailed than I remember and all was on so true

@THESTAATS 2 года назад

Do we all Celebrate this now? Or is it still segregated? It seems no matter how far we come we are still so far. Preserve All history so it is not repeated. Keep us Free 🆓.

@Diana1000Smiles 2 года назад

Are American Women permitted to make personal Healthcare decisions?

@aarondigby5054 Год назад

We have a choice now if we want to separate, integrate or segregate.

@steveluhr5156 2 года назад

Thank you for that great video! Powerful stuff. Will now celebrate a bit more reverentl.. cheers!

@quincyforbus9943 14 дней назад

Wonderful 🙏🏾

@rdreeves2332 2 года назад

Please support The Venus Project. We have to go beyond politics poverty and war.

@Diana1000Smiles 2 года назад

Climate changes have gone beyond the point where Humans can survive without a clean up of our environment, which lots of religious people refuse to acknowledge.

@crossnations5026 19 дней назад

Till this day!!! Educate and then celebrate!! 🎉

@leonmc9540 2 года назад

He took me back

@mjw12345 15 дней назад

Amy Goodman is a national, a global treasure - she may decline it but Biden should present her with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. What a great lady, what a great American.

@charlesbanks141 Год назад

Marvelous absolutely captivating stunning profound and very enlightening

@richardmedley5290 22 дня назад

Good stuff

@me21464 Год назад

July 4, 2023…we survive together! ❤

@gabrielmaroto18 2 года назад

I am not included in this glorious anniversary! The year is 2022!

@tuckerbugeater 2 года назад

great

@alanme5752 2 года назад

The Pharisees said to Jesus Christ if We had lived in the Days of the Old Testament Prophets, we would not have killed them? And Jesus Christ answered, but you are the Children of them that did kill the Prophets? So that puts a end to that. I NEVER OWNED A SLAVE OR I WASN'T BORN THEN? FOOL EVEN THE BIBLE SAY? The Children pay for the Sins of they Parents? The Children of the Devil are more evil than the Devil? I said the Devil Not Satan? (The Aryans).

@alanme5752 2 года назад

@@gabrielmaroto18 Because white people believe each other, even when they know they Lying? Who do you think the F.B.I say is the true Terroist? " "WE WANT OUR COUNTRY BACK" Means you Lost something? M.A.G.A means you lost something the world has changed Covid did more for America than any policitain? Pray to Trump? Because all these things hit the fan when you elected him he helped me and hurt You?