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Monday, October 20, 2025

The Fourth of July

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Every time the Fourth of July rolls around, I always think of that remarkable speech by Frederick Douglass, “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?” which he delivered to the Ladies Anti-Slavery Society in Rochester, New York on July 5, 1852. This speech is a must read for all students of history for analysis and discussion especially when considering the contemporary relevance of many of Douglass’ arguments. Not too long ago, I read about state student assessments not incorporating social studies, which makes perfect sense if you’re trying to maintain an ignorant base of mass citizens to control and prevent from questioning poor policies. But this is no more effective in the progressive development of a state (or nation for that matter) than poor labor practices that do not encourage and empower people. If we are serious about growing a more educated and competitive population, then we should do better in teaching our children to critically think about their history. After all, Carter G. Woodson stated, “If you can control a man’s thinking, you do not have to worry about his action. When you determine what a man shall think, you do not have to concern yourself about what he will do. If you make a man feel that he is inferior, you do not have to compel him to accept an inferior status, for he will seek it himself.” Those words are nothing short of prophetic.

In his speech, Douglass offers great accolades to the Framers of the U.S. Constitution, also known as the “Founders,” providing historical legitimacy regarding their fight for independence from the British. He effectively sets the tone for the respective celebratory atmosphere under which he was speaking in 1852 for which that July 4 Independence Day was recognized. Beyond simply being beautifully written, further in the midst of his speech, Douglass strategically moved into a radical interrogation of the hypocrisy of slavery for a nation of which the most prized value is freedom. He stated the following:

“Fellow-citizens, pardon me, allow me to ask, why am I called upon to speak here today? What have I, or those I represent, to do with your national independence? Are the great principles of political freedom and of natural justice, embodied in that Declaration of Independence, extended to us? And am I, therefore, called upon to bring a humble offering to the national altar, and to confess the benefits and express devout gratitude for the blessings resulting from your independence to us?.. Your high independence only reveals the immeasurable distance between us.” And further on he states, “What to the American slave, is your Fourth of July?”

So while I enjoy great cook-outs with family and friends, watching fireworks even when accompanied by hyper-patriotic music and attending family reunions, which always seem to occur around this time of year, I believe there is a more universal focus of our historical fight for Independence that we can learn from Douglass. We might consider raising our public discourse to the significance of dissent in all its expressions and how our national identity has been shaped by those who have been historically, and today, involved in social-political movements. From the problematic political rhetoric that has contaminated our current presidential election process, to the thought-provoking performances and speeches by artists such as Jesse Williams to the energy of the “Fight for 15” Minimum Wage Movement and the “Black Lives Matter Movement,” we need truthful dialogues about the intersections of race, economics, gender identity and other aspects of our being to issues of justice and opportunity that should be at the heart of our nation’s values. There are ways to be more “free.”

An opportunity for this type of discussion will occur this Thursday, July 7 in the Toby theater of the Indianapolis Museum of Art (IMA), which along with the sponsorship of the American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana (ACLU-IN) beginning at 6 p.m. will be a free panel and film discussion of “Straight Outta Compton” (Rated R). This film, which chronicles the life of the individuals who formed the group N.W.A. in Compton, California, provides an insightful picture of the experiences of young Black men, in particular, who found a way to express their feelings of frustration and powerlessness through music. Like Frederick Douglass, they really had something that we needed and still need to hear.

Dr. Terri Jett is an associate professor of Political Science and special assistant to the Provost for Diversity and Inclusivity at Butler University. She is also president of the Board for the ACLU of Indiana.

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