LAD #16: Douglass' 5th of July Speech

          Douglass begins his speech with a series of questions; Why am I here to speak today? What have I to do with the nation's independence? Are those liberties and freedoms written in the declaration of independence and constitution extended to us (African Americans)? If god were to decide the answer to these questions, the outcome would be favorable to his cause, and would lighten the work of his job significantly. Unfortunately this s not the case. He is in fact not included in this honoring of American Independence as he and all other blacks do not share the rights and liberties had by their white counterparts. Slavery is an issue that has caused the nation to look black. The United States government is false and hypocritical as not all men are equal under its laws.