James Earl Jones reads Frederick Douglass's July 4th speech
For America's 250th, I read Frederick Douglass’ speech, “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?” on the House floor—for the first time in history. His speech endures as a mirror & mandate for us all—to confront our inequities while fighting for an America as good as its promise.
HTTP 1.1/418 Eldritch Teapot of R'lyeh173I was surprised that it hadn’t been read into the record before, then paused and thought for a moment and realized that, no, it’s not that surprising, is it. Thanks for doing this.
ericjanssen.bsky.social59The Fourth of July celebrates the day that South Carolina agreed to sign the document ONLY after Thomas Jefferson struck all anti-slavery mention out of it. (I learned that from a freakin’ MUSICAL. In sixth grade.)
Divanyst48Thanks, Congresswoman for reading the speech into the record. It still applies & today, I think of this part: "Fellow-citizens; above your national, tumultuous joy, I hear the mournful wail of millions!" War survivors, vets, homeless, sick, disabled, in poverty, dying from preventable situations...
sanityzone.bsky.social29I've been listening to audio book of American Struggle by @jonmeacham.bsky.social. He included this speech. Delivered 9 years before the Civil War, was SCATHING. It should not just be read into the congressional record. It should be taught in schools.
bizzarist.bsky.social24Lady Congresswoman Ayanna, my fiance read me this, and I did not know that Frederick Douglas had written it..When I listened to the words thinking she had written it, then she told me she had not..My fiance is a brilliant autistic strong black woman, whom I call my Autistic Rainbow Unicorn..If
Blue Jaye 📷🎵 💙19I am not celebrating (over) 250 years of the genocide of Native persons and the enslavement of Africans. There is absolutely nothing to celebrate about this country being around so long.
Kevin M. Levin47Hell yes. That's my representative.
Paul Crider19Yaasss! Past time. Will try to find the full video to foist upon my unsuspecting kids tomorrow.
Jed Hartman4(For anyone who hasn’t read the full Douglass speech, here’s the text: loveman.sdsu.edu/docs/1852Fre...) (And more info: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/What_to...)
This American Patriot 💙3In Nov, we MUST VOTE to 86 Rich, racist “Whites Only” evangelical #Republicans & centrist #Democrats Then OUR Congress will ratify to 86 Electoral College & 86 Demented election-denying “Above the Law” racist #WhiteNationalist wannabe King #Trump #UNITEDWeStand TY @pressley.house.gov #BlueCrew
Just here to post this again like I do every year, not only because Douglass was one of the founding philosophers of American liberty but because I am so moved by the kids Frederick Douglass’ descendants deliver “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July”
Sarah J. Jackson94*nerd posters note that this is not the full speech, which everyone should read in full because it does so much political and moral philosophy in one document and is such a mic drop you’ll be yelling*
Rachel Tamar Van38This is a favorite of mine this time of year as well, but in 2026, I find myself thinking of Douglass’s 1894 speech, “Lessons of the Hour” - teachingamericanhistory.org/document/les...
Adam GoBills12"For it is not light that is needed, but fire; it is not the gentle shower, but thunder. We need the storm, the whirlwind, and the earthquake.” I love this part! It feels appropriate for today’s situation!
Ian Coldwater 🧊🚫11Holy shit those genes run strong
Monica H Green8Thank you so much for sharing this again. I've seen it in previous years, but yes, we need it every year.
Matthew R Francis8I like James Earl Jones' version too, of course
“What, to the American slave, is your 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…” —Frederick Douglass, 1852
Grizzled Shopkeep13We had Juneteenth a few weeks ago, apart from the home explosive industry the Fourth is kind of superfluous
Dean Superina4Even more so for the Indigenous people who had their land stolen from them.
plc4america started as a lie and continues as a lie today.
carelesswhisperer.bsky.social2In 2026 you can add the terms immigrant, prisoner, gay, Palestinian or many other terms to that first sentence and that quote still applies.
James Davidson2I saw a lot of "250 years of freedom" flags in Florida this week 🙄
lobome.bsky.social1First People Nations aren't real enthused about it either.
"What to the Slave is the 4th of July" was v much top of mind for me when I was asked to write something for America's 250th Ironically, Frederick Douglass expressed relief in that speech that the U.S. was, at 76 years old, a young nation that may yet wisen w age! www.thenation.com/article/soci...
What to the slave is the 4th of July? This was the woeful question of Frederick Douglass, one of the greatest Americans.
John Wallach3He's being recognized more and more I heard.
L.A.Roberts1The cashier at the gas station this morning, an immigrant herself, wished me a happy Independence Day. I told her I wasn’t feeling it. Tomorrow, I will celebrate her hope. Douglass summed it up more eloquently than I ever could. Sharing history is truly heroic, when so many selfishly ignore it.
Frederick Douglass’ ‘What to the Slave Is Your 4th of July? – July 5, 1852 A leading abolitionist delivers a broadside to those who celebrate Independence Day when so many remain enslaved
Heather4Most people have never read the entire Declaration of Independence. After the preamble, they list grievances. It's a rich, white man's grievances. The don't mention Black people at all % refer to indigenous people as 'merciless Indian savages.' They wanted to enslave people, plunder the land of
Andy Heppelle🇺🇸🇨🇦🏳️🌈🇺🇦🇬🇱🇺🇳🏳️⚧️14th of July, Independence Day🇺🇸 The Declaration of Independence🇺🇸 & U.S. Constitution🇺🇸 define our nation, where: “ALL men (people) are created equal and endowed with unalienable rights…life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” this song calls us to make those words true at last🇺🇸 youtu.be/i30SdcfEpSE
Blue Texan1His message applies now to the thousands of ICE detainees who are being held for too long under horrific conditions, and some of whom are dying in these for profit prisons. That is why the UN is investigating them.
Michael Corthell1America’s founding promise was never meant to sit behind glass as a beautiful sentence from another age. It was meant to trouble us, guide us, and call us forward.
