Frederick Douglass' the Meaning of July 4

On July 5th, 1852 Frederick Douglass spoke at Corinthian Hall in Rochester, New York on the significance of America's Independence Day. Ossie Davis reads this speech, compiled by Phil Foner, which demonstrates Douglass' incomparable skill in oration and commands respect for the legendary thinker and activist. Admitting to being embarrassed by the great quot;distance between this platform and the slave plantation, from which [he] escaped,quot; Douglass proceeded to praise the quot;sublime faith in the great principles of justice and freedomquot; out of which the United States was born, while mourning the quot;sad sense of disparityquot; that even after national independence persists in keeping an quot;immeasurable distance between usquot; through the bonds of slavery. (The Emancipation Proclamation was not issued until 1863, and the 13th Amendment did not officially end slavery until 1865.) (Re-mastered and reiussed on SFW47006 The Oratory of Frederick Douglass.)