Do you know the saddest part about this speech? It was written and read over a 100 years ago, but still rings true. I am in no way anti America, but it baffles me when America would stand and scold other nations for their injustices towards it's own citizens, meanwhile upholding the most unspeakable wrongs against certain members of it's own citizenry.
@@marcusc3463 so you think. The groups that claim to care, only care when you follow their narrative. Terry Crews blew the lid off of these "movements" that claim to help certain communities. Frederick Douglass just had his statue destroyed by these groups that claim to care about injustice. That man was a Hero. Follow the narrative and find the flaws. Fix what you can and admit to what you see
Wow. These words are an indictment against complacency, a challenge that rings and chills and inspires us in the days of Ferguson, Baltimore and Charleston. And James Earl Jones' voice--there is none more deep, resonant and clear, none who can channel these words past our intellectual defenses into our deepest cores. I'm still shaking! May we all be shaken and stirred to loving action.
When I was about 10 years old I was in Philadelphia Airport as Jane's Earl Jones passing through. I heard his voice at first.. I swear to God I thought it was Darth Vader. I felt a mixture of terror and aw. My dad walked me over to get an autograph because we were both such Star Wars fans.. He was so amazing! Gave me the autograph on a TWA receipt and it did it as Darth Vader.. it was a 10 year olds dream..
Thank you for posting this.We all need this reminder..I live in Rochester New York and reread this speech over and over- rich , history in the soil here.. Peace N love
@@madmojo-ou2pz and yet the blood shall remain fresh upon the ground wet and sour for we should all die before we forget, NEVER AGAIN I SAY NEVER AGAIN.
How would anyone find this racist ? It's true ! Everything he says can be backed up by historical facts. I wonder what they thought he could say other than the words he spoke ? Very moving in my opinion. We do need the storm !
Know your history- ALL of it - We need to make sure that our kids know ALL of our history too!! Frederick Douglas was a genius and man before his time!
Absolutely beautifully spoken so very very hurt each day I learn something new, that’s to all who contribute our history and sharing just in general day by day lots of 😘 and Tadah family sis Betty.
I love the fact that Douglass reminded Americans of the founding principles, freedoms and laws had yet been extended to all its citizens, including himself. And in that regard the July 4 celebration was less meaningful as a global example of human liberty. GREAT SPEECH!
I love the fact that you are completely unaware of the distasteful arrogance of your patronizing comment, speaking of Douglass as if he wasn't an American
@@johntao6822 The principles of liberty, had NOT been extended to Douglass as well as all African-Americans at the time. That is clear by the content of his July 4 speech.
@@johntao6822 He wasn't. He was only three-fifths of an American. If you don't know what that means - from the very era he wrote this same speech - then it's time you read about it.
+Yae391 Unless you are a time traveler from the time of Fredrick Douglass you have no more idea then anyone else the suffering of Mr. Douglass. While the challenge of those who would hate you for who you are still exist, you should be embarrassed to live in a country that does not force you into slavery, and on a whole protects your freedom, and yet compare your problems of people miss treating you to people who miss treated an ex-slave, who knew that slavery was still going on.
If that's what you have to convince yourself of to feel better, go right ahead. No we're not time travelers, but guess what? We DO have parents, grandparents, a lack of knowing who THEIR grandparents were BECAUSE of the things this great country has done to people of certain ethnicities. And many of those things are STILL going on TODAY, which is why we can still relate to this speech TODAY, which some of you just won't get because you live with blinders on and are so defensive of your fragile limited view of reality, that you quickly dismiss what others that you walk past every day are going through. Here's an article of just ONE example of ONE police department and how they've destroyed the lives of over 1000 black men, the type of stuff some of us have been talking about for YEARS, decades even, but folks like you just can't seem to get because you don't want to, you live in willful ignorance to protect your false view of reality. www.diversityinc.com/news/neo-confederate-cops-in-alabama-allegedly-frame-black-men/
+mikaris01g So a crime from the 1990's is somehow making this speech relevant today. This speech can't be relevant anymore for one simple thing. These injustices are done with the law. Back then, having a slave was normal and not illegal, but know all of that is gone now in the system. At this point the system is equal, in that sense. Are there still injustices, of course, but these injustices are not tolerable and are illegal.
It's a 4th of July tradition of mine to watch this video. James Earl Jones displays this speech in a vividly honest portrayal. Frederick Douglass is a hero of mine. This speech cuts deep and true.
This is a powerful speech from our history so long ago and one needs to go back in time to hear the thoughts and voices of those that came before so that we might then pause to listen to the voices today and truly listen to the words.
Vader AND Thulsa Doom. No actor in the history of film has played two of the most iconic villains in History. A noble soul, gifted with eloquence. Yet at the start of his career they had him wearing a loincloth and speaking in broken English to Tarzan!
Brilliant!!! absolutely Brilliant!!!! Danny Glover did a fine job on this as well. But Mr. James Earl Jones was utterly extraordinary!!!! What a give we have to have this wonderful man among us in our time!!!! Tearfully Brilliant!!!
From a young age, I denounced the 4th of July, as well as many other so called Amerikkkan, holidays. Because if you just use common sense, many of these holidays were not created with inclusion for us in mind, or any other people of color, especially the Indigenous people of this country. However, many years later after hearing this glorious speech delivered by the powerful voice of JEJ, confirms my original thoughts of common sense as a young Black Man in Amerikkka. We are a strong and brilliant people, that was so brutally mistreated, tortured, raped, murdered and robbed of culture, language, self-knowledge, etc… Amerikkka will NEVER be great, until it repents and repairs damages caused to the Native people and African Americans.
I am confronting racists among my friends and family every single day. These hypocrites arm themselves to the teeth against "government tyranny" but get butt-hurt that a football player refuses to stand for the national anthem. My grandfather was honored by the military academy he attended for his military service and they put up a plaque to honor him. When they sided with segregationists, he demanded they remove the plaque they put up in his honor, because he was ashamed of their racism. When I was a child we shared a house with a black family from Mississippi, and the wives of Jesse Jackson and Muhammed Ali both ate at our dinner table and were served by my mother. My family always stood up for freedom and against racism. I can't stand it when I see a cousin post a bunch of right wing bullshit and think it's OK for more black people to be summarily executed by a militarized police state to the extent that there are more black people being murdered by police than were lynched in the south during Jim Crow and segregation. OK to be executed without a trial by police, but NOT OK for black people to complain about it. For what? Am I supposed to be proud of a country founded by racists, who incarcerate more citizens (mostly black and other minorities) than any country on the planet? Proud of a country where people can starve, go homeless, and die from lack of health care? I have a friend here, in this small, mostly white and hispanic mountain town, who tells me how much racism he experiences here as one of less than 100 black people who live here. The pain in his eyes is real, and I am tired of people whose lives are not impacted by racism sitting back and judging everybody else, and lecturing US about race. I feel like all of these people who are "offended" by black lives matter have no brains and no sympathy at all for their fellow human beings. I guarantee you that if it were MY son or daughter killed by police officers, I would be taking it A LOT harder than BLM does. How can anyone not feel empathy for innocent people being killed? Don't take any shit from these people. All good hearted people know what is right and wrong, and all good hearted people know that we are all part of the same family of mankind on this earth.
My LA teacher showed this video in class: Me (in my head): Hey, that's the voice of Darth Vader and Mufasa! Classmate (out loud): That's the old black guy from The Sandlot! Me: -_-'
I understand completely, I also respect how you feel! The more, I study African American History, it's makes me proud, to be a Black Man. Many contributions, have been made, but hidden, having to dig deep, in the wells, of information in the local library. I think about, the evolution of our race, and appreciate, the sacrifice, and celebrate, in my own way. Good Luck!
The gentleman that introduced this speech said that Frederick Douglass was a former slave. Frederick Douglass was a former slave, because he escaped slave! He gave this speech while slavery was still the law of the land in many states. He was asked to give this speech while in fear of being captured and returned to slavery. While he surprised the audience with this speech...what type of speech could they possibly have expected? If many had their way, Frederick Douglass would have still been in bondage, along with tens of thousands of his African brothers and sisters. I feel as though Frederick Douglass, in many ways, was the Malcolm X of his time. A brave, outspoken, inspirational man.
+itsbobbyflair Anderson I agree that Frederick Douglass was an inspiration, but I am not sure that your inference is correct. The Fugitive Slave Law of 1850 built on the Fugitive Slave Law of 1793, which was not being enforced. According to the 1850 law, anyone who helped a fugitive slave in any way would be subject to 6 months in jail, bonuses were given to law enforcement officials who returned escaped slaves to their masters, and anyone suspected of being a runaway slave, freedman or not, could be "returned" to his or her master. The stiff penalties meant that individuals were less inclined to help fugitive slaves. If I am not mistaken, though it has been a long time since I read his autobiography, Frederick Douglass convinced his master to voluntarily emancipate him, much like the runaway slave who had inspired him in his youth in "The Columbian Orator."
+Heidi Galloway Thanks for your reply. I was not aware, or may have forgotten, that Frederick Douglass was ever actually voluntarily emancipated. I'll look it up asap. If you can shed any additional light...that would be great.
I did a little more research. He was promised his freedom once he reached a certain age, and lived in a fairly emancipated state away from his master for a time period. However, he did run away and was living as a fugitive at the time that he wrote his autobiography. Once his autobiography was published, he moved to England for a time period. A group of abolitionists banded together to purchase his freedom. I mixed up the sequence of events. Sorry. However, voluntary emancipation was an idea that he had repeatedly read in a dialogue between master and runaway slave in "The Columbian Orator." It was this rhetorical argument, ending in the voluntary emancipation of the fictitious slave, that shaped his ideology and rhetorical structure for the rest of his life. You can hear the echoes of these ideas and the rhetorical patterns in this speech, and in many others.
In April 1981, I said to a speech class that it was my belief that with our pride, ego, selfishness and greed, there was no problem in this country that a good, solid war on OUR OWN SHORES wouldn't cure. it seems I'm not the only one to think that.
Wonderful message, even for today unfortunately. My prayers and salutations to all my black brothers and sisters this holiday and my wish for true freedom and equality for all of us. For we are not truly equal in the eyes of our maker if we belittle and subjugate through dark oppression those of our species who are simply dissimilar through acts of nature, which by belief of most, are acts of God our supreme father.
I am a retired Marine Master Sergeant 23 1/2 years, retired in 2001. I am NOT a flag waver by no means, I served to stay out of prison and to be a productive citizen. Yet, I see this country going backwards to a time of hatred, preference and white supremacy, and it is evident that the powers that be want to remain in power at any cost. As a Black man in my early 60's, reparations and land are the only solution to centuries of murder, kidnapping, rape and bondage. Frederick Douglass's speech in 1852 (July 5th) illustrates America's lies and contradictions. The current alt right in the white house (45), consistently displays immorality and deception, just like the lying, self serving so-called "founding fathers!" Nothing has changed.
Relevant perhaps, but accurate? I think not. -- Update: I have since gone through high school and started college. I acknowledge my statement was one of severe privilege and ignorance. It no longer represents my views or opinions. Stay safe y'all, may our country find itself enjoying a birthday soon where no one is deprived of freedom and justice.
What is accurate about this soeech in todays termes is his DESCRIPTION OF WHITE AMERICAN HYPOCRISY; THE RADICAL DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THEIR PROFESSED LOVE OF FREEDOM AND EQUALITY AND THE REALITY OF THEIR POLICIES ON RACE AND CLASS!!!!!
Largely I agree. I am registered as an Independent and no allegiance to any party label. But the Democratic party only shifted the plantation to the welfare system which has led to the massive decline of African Americans. First slavery was forced and now it's preordained by false promises that will never happen. Worked in the projects in social field for 4.5 years and most of the dads are in prison. They were 17% of the populace in the 1970s and now are barely 13% and in decline still.
Saying what needed - and still needs - to be said. We have much to learn from the injustices of the past, which keep on happening, sometimes in more subtle ways, and sometimes in jarringly NOT subtle ways. We are all the same under our skin - no matter what color skin we wear.
You neglect to tell your viewers that this video contains a very small part of his speech. Here is a transcript of the entire speech: rbscp.lib.rochester.edu/2945
One of the great voices of the 20th Century reading one of the most important writers of the 19th? Awesome. I will definitely use this as a teaching tool, thank you. (Although now I just want to hear JEJ as Darth Vader as Frederick Douglass.)
I love that in the undertone of the speech Douglas attacks the 2 difrent forms of racism with the La La left woke racism and the Right wing racism based on dogma. My favourite line of Douglass will be “I appear before you this evening as a thief and a robber. I stole this head, these limbs, this body from my master and ran off with them.”
@DHMIII State Citizenship is based entirely on the residency requirements of said states. Any citizen of the US can become a citizen of the various states by fulfilling the residency requirement of said state. Involuntary servitude was abolished along with slavery by the 13th amend. I will be happy to look into whatever you wish to show me. I am a citizen of the US and a resident of Canada. Both countries were touched by slavery and involuntary servitude. Very different outcomes though.
Yet, with the slaves unable to rise up and throw off their yoke the way the Americans had 76 years before, it was the Northern white people who took up their cause in righteous anger, and fought a bloody war to set them free - brother against brother. We are told to pray for forgiveness just as we forgive those who have hurt us. Now, we need to let go of old hurts and seek reconciliation.
I listen to this every Fourth of July! You should, too!
James earl jones was a perfect choice. He has a great voice.
Anyone notice who’s clapping and not clapping 🤔
Darth Vader
@@Daisy-ct3nh EXACTLY!
th-cam.com/video/NL373i1P_7E/w-d-xo.html
Do you know the saddest part about this speech? It was written and read over a 100 years ago, but still rings true. I am in no way anti America, but it baffles me when America would stand and scold other nations for their injustices towards it's own citizens, meanwhile upholding the most unspeakable wrongs against certain members of it's own citizenry.
It is easier to point out the wrongs of others than to accept and change our own.
Daryl, my sentiments exactly.
Now you know what it means to be an American
Daryl wrote this 5 years ago. And it is more true now than ever..
@@marcusc3463 so you think. The groups that claim to care, only care when you follow their narrative. Terry Crews blew the lid off of these "movements" that claim to help certain communities. Frederick Douglass just had his statue destroyed by these groups that claim to care about injustice. That man was a Hero. Follow the narrative and find the flaws. Fix what you can and admit to what you see
Wow. These words are an indictment against complacency, a challenge that rings and chills and inspires us in the days of Ferguson, Baltimore and Charleston. And James Earl Jones' voice--there is none more deep, resonant and clear, none who can channel these words past our intellectual defenses into our deepest cores. I'm still shaking! May we all be shaken and stirred to loving action.
When I was about 10 years old I was in Philadelphia Airport as Jane's Earl Jones passing through. I heard his voice at first.. I swear to God I thought it was Darth Vader. I felt a mixture of terror and aw. My dad walked me over to get an autograph because we were both such Star Wars fans.. He was so amazing! Gave me the autograph on a TWA receipt and it did it as Darth Vader.. it was a 10 year olds dream..
OMG that's so awesome.
Thank you for posting this.We all need this reminder..I live in Rochester New York and reread this speech over and over- rich , history in the soil here.. Peace N love
This is still applicable today. Sure, we have come a long way but we still have very, very far to go. Anyone who thinks otherwise is a fool.
Bullshit
@@madmojo-ou2pz and yet the blood shall remain fresh upon the ground wet and sour for we should all die before we forget, NEVER AGAIN I SAY NEVER AGAIN.
How would anyone find this racist ? It's true ! Everything he says can be backed up by historical facts. I wonder what they thought he could say other than the words he spoke ? Very moving in my opinion. We do need the storm !
Know your history- ALL of it - We need to make sure that our kids know ALL of our history too!! Frederick Douglas was a genius and man before his time!
He was the Malcolm X of his day.
...in many ways
focus on math and simple laws first. We can see how goes from there
sandiricebeauty my children will hear and read it
sandiricebeauty Yes ma’am!
Frederick Douglass didn't even know his own history his own people sold him into slavery in Africa
Absolutely beautifully spoken so very very hurt each day I learn something new, that’s to all who contribute our history and sharing just in general day by day lots of 😘 and Tadah family sis Betty.
I love the fact that Douglass reminded Americans of the founding principles, freedoms and laws had yet been extended to all its citizens, including himself. And in that regard the July 4 celebration was less meaningful as a global example of human liberty. GREAT SPEECH!
I love the fact that you are completely unaware of the distasteful arrogance of your patronizing comment, speaking of Douglass as if he wasn't an American
@@johntao6822 The principles of liberty, had NOT been extended to Douglass as well as all African-Americans at the time. That is clear by the content of his July 4 speech.
@lukas mikael women were not citizens in his time with the right to vote.
@@johntao6822 He wasn't. He was only three-fifths of an American. If you don't know what that means - from the very era he wrote this same speech - then it's time you read about it.
Best speech I've ever heard!! So, so true.
I agree,,the whole speech is stunning,,After reading his book its hard to believe that he could be so eloquent despite his experiences....
"fate whispers to the warrior 'you cannot withstand the storm. The warrior whispers back 'I AM the storm'"
This is absolutely the truth and unfortunately it still applies.
+Yae391 Unless you are a time traveler from the time of Fredrick Douglass you have no more idea then anyone else the suffering of Mr. Douglass. While the challenge of those who would hate you for who you are still exist, you should be embarrassed to live in a country that does not force you into slavery, and on a whole protects your freedom, and yet compare your problems of people miss treating you to people who miss treated an ex-slave, who knew that slavery was still going on.
If that's what you have to convince yourself of to feel better, go right ahead. No we're not time travelers, but guess what? We DO have parents, grandparents, a lack of knowing who THEIR grandparents were BECAUSE of the things this great country has done to people of certain ethnicities. And many of those things are STILL going on TODAY, which is why we can still relate to this speech TODAY, which some of you just won't get because you live with blinders on and are so defensive of your fragile limited view of reality, that you quickly dismiss what others that you walk past every day are going through.
Here's an article of just ONE example of ONE police department and how they've destroyed the lives of over 1000 black men, the type of stuff some of us have been talking about for YEARS, decades even, but folks like you just can't seem to get because you don't want to, you live in willful ignorance to protect your false view of reality.
www.diversityinc.com/news/neo-confederate-cops-in-alabama-allegedly-frame-black-men/
mikaris01g Exactly!!!
+mikaris01g
So a crime from the 1990's is somehow making this speech relevant today. This speech can't be relevant anymore for one simple thing. These injustices are done with the law. Back then, having a slave was normal and not illegal, but know all of that is gone now in the system. At this point the system is equal, in that sense. Are there still injustices, of course, but these injustices are not tolerable and are illegal.
Frederick Douglass is an American hero for all people of the USA and it's great to hear his words.
The painful awareness of genius consciousness. Such sorrow and anger.
Rest in Power, James Earl Jones.
James Earl Jones u rock
Powerful and humbling. ❤❤
It's a 4th of July tradition of mine to watch this video. James Earl Jones displays this speech in a vividly honest portrayal. Frederick Douglass is a hero of mine. This speech cuts deep and true.
Rest In Power James Earl Jones. True inspiration.
This is a powerful speech from our history so long ago and one needs to go back in time to hear the thoughts and voices of those that came before so that we might then pause to listen to the voices today and truly listen to the words.
Douglass is one of my American Hero's...perhaps the greatest public figure of the 19th Century. His life was amazing! Thanks for sharing.
Douglas through the voice of Vader himself... Amazing.
Vader AND Thulsa Doom. No actor in the history of film has played two of the most iconic villains in History. A noble soul, gifted with eloquence. Yet at the start of his career they had him wearing a loincloth and speaking in broken English to Tarzan!
Brilliant!!! absolutely Brilliant!!!! Danny Glover did a fine job on this as well. But Mr. James Earl Jones was utterly extraordinary!!!!
What a give we have to have this wonderful man among us in our time!!!!
Tearfully Brilliant!!!
JEJ has a powerful voice. For him to read this sends question, chill and enlightenment all at the same time.
Great speech, great reading, great post! right oN! the institution of slavery in america was a crime against humanity! thanks for posting!
Jones' oratory skills are unparalleled! He's done an amazing job in the past on some of US history's greatest documents and famous speeches...
VERY POWERFUL 😿🤍🖤🤎
Douglass speech was brilliant and Jones reading really brings it to life.
From a young age, I denounced the 4th of July, as well as many other so called Amerikkkan, holidays. Because if you just use common sense, many of these holidays were not created with inclusion for us in mind, or any other people of color, especially the Indigenous people of this country. However, many years later after hearing this glorious speech delivered by the powerful voice of JEJ, confirms my original thoughts of common sense as a young Black Man in Amerikkka.
We are a strong and brilliant people, that was so brutally mistreated, tortured, raped, murdered and robbed of culture, language, self-knowledge, etc…
Amerikkka will NEVER be great, until it repents and repairs damages caused to the Native people and African Americans.
Damn!!!! Excellent for a self-taught man
Listening to this each 4th is one of the ways I can stomach the endless lies we USA-ers tell ourselves about what great people we are!
1852 to 2015! and Frederick Douglass words are still relevant… still Very true!
This speech written by Frederick Douglas, so long ago....those exact words ring even louder today, in 2022.
The greats always leave their thoughts of the heart of mind into words for all to learn and heal from.
The writing & reading of this is nothing less than perfect.
Mr. James Earl Jones' orotund delivery of Frederick Douglass is phenomenal.
1852 to 2016...SAD that Frederick Douglass's poignant words STILL ring TRUE today.
Sad why?
I am confronting racists among my friends and family every single day. These hypocrites arm themselves to the teeth against "government tyranny" but get butt-hurt that a football player refuses to stand for the national anthem. My grandfather was honored by the military academy he attended for his military service and they put up a plaque to honor him. When they sided with segregationists, he demanded they remove the plaque they put up in his honor, because he was ashamed of their racism. When I was a child we shared a house with a black family from Mississippi, and the wives of Jesse Jackson and Muhammed Ali both ate at our dinner table and were served by my mother. My family always stood up for freedom and against racism. I can't stand it when I see a cousin post a bunch of right wing bullshit and think it's OK for more black people to be summarily executed by a militarized police state to the extent that there are more black people being murdered by police than were lynched in the south during Jim Crow and segregation. OK to be executed without a trial by police, but NOT OK for black people to complain about it. For what? Am I supposed to be proud of a country founded by racists, who incarcerate more citizens (mostly black and other minorities) than any country on the planet? Proud of a country where people can starve, go homeless, and die from lack of health care? I have a friend here, in this small, mostly white and hispanic mountain town, who tells me how much racism he experiences here as one of less than 100 black people who live here. The pain in his eyes is real, and I am tired of people whose lives are not impacted by racism sitting back and judging everybody else, and lecturing US about race. I feel like all of these people who are "offended" by black lives matter have no brains and no sympathy at all for their fellow human beings. I guarantee you that if it were MY son or daughter killed by police officers, I would be taking it A LOT harder than BLM does. How can anyone not feel empathy for innocent people being killed? Don't take any shit from these people. All good hearted people know what is right and wrong, and all good hearted people know that we are all part of the same family of mankind on this earth.
Fantastic comments.
The Future is Retro
Oh how these words resonate today.
My LA teacher showed this video in class:
Me (in my head): Hey, that's the voice of Darth Vader and Mufasa!
Classmate (out loud): That's the old black guy from The Sandlot!
Me: -_-'
A man well aware of the hypocritical injustices that his people endured.
I understand completely, I also respect how you feel! The more, I study African American History, it's makes me proud, to be a Black Man. Many contributions, have been made, but hidden, having to dig deep, in the wells, of information in the local library. I think about, the evolution of our race, and appreciate, the sacrifice, and celebrate, in my own way. Good Luck!
The gentleman that introduced this speech said that Frederick Douglass was a former slave. Frederick Douglass was a former slave, because he escaped slave! He gave this speech while slavery was still the law of the land in many states. He was asked to give this speech while in fear of being captured and returned to slavery. While he surprised the audience with this speech...what type of speech could they possibly have expected? If many had their way, Frederick Douglass would have still been in bondage, along with tens of thousands of his African brothers and sisters. I feel as though Frederick Douglass, in many ways, was the Malcolm X of his time. A brave, outspoken, inspirational man.
+itsbobbyflair Anderson
I agree that Frederick Douglass was an inspiration, but I am not sure that your inference is correct. The Fugitive Slave Law of 1850 built on the Fugitive Slave Law of 1793, which was not being enforced. According to the 1850 law, anyone who helped a fugitive slave in any way would be subject to 6 months in jail, bonuses were given to law enforcement officials who returned escaped slaves to their masters, and anyone suspected of being a runaway slave, freedman or not, could be "returned" to his or her master. The stiff penalties meant that individuals were less inclined to help fugitive slaves. If I am not mistaken, though it has been a long time since I read his autobiography, Frederick Douglass convinced his master to voluntarily emancipate him, much like the runaway slave who had inspired him in his youth in "The Columbian Orator."
+Heidi Galloway Thanks for your reply.
I was not aware, or may have forgotten, that Frederick Douglass was ever actually voluntarily emancipated. I'll look it up asap. If you can shed any additional light...that would be great.
I did a little more research. He was promised his freedom once he reached a certain age, and lived in a fairly emancipated state away from his master for a time period. However, he did run away and was living as a fugitive at the time that he wrote his autobiography. Once his autobiography was published, he moved to England for a time period. A group of abolitionists banded together to purchase his freedom. I mixed up the sequence of events. Sorry. However, voluntary emancipation was an idea that he had repeatedly read in a dialogue between master and runaway slave in "The Columbian Orator." It was this rhetorical argument, ending in the voluntary emancipation of the fictitious slave, that shaped his ideology and rhetorical structure for the rest of his life. You can hear the echoes of these ideas and the rhetorical patterns in this speech, and in many others.
"I find your racism disturbing (choke)"
I'm not a black guy but I love when someone has to say something with a big attitude and inspiring ideas....
The USA has NEVER lived up to the noble ideals we espouse: EQUALITY, JUSTICE, LIBERTY, true DEMOCRACY! ....THATS ABOUT TO CHANGE....
In April 1981, I said to a speech class that it was my belief that with our pride, ego, selfishness and greed, there was no problem in this country that a good, solid war on OUR OWN SHORES wouldn't cure. it seems I'm not the only one to think that.
one thing James Earl Jones and Frederick Douglass have in common is that they’re both inspiring
Wonderful message, even for today unfortunately.
My prayers and salutations to all my black brothers and sisters this holiday and my wish for true freedom and equality for all of us. For we are not truly equal in the eyes of our maker if we belittle and subjugate through dark oppression those of our species who are simply dissimilar through acts of nature, which by belief of most, are acts of God our supreme father.
Rest in peace, James Earl Jones. May your legacy live on.
My favorite Douglass speech.
Of these men, both the living and the dead, I say, "RECOGNIZE!"
amazing. thank you.
The words of Frederick Douglass through the voice of James Earl Jones. Amazing!
I am a retired Marine Master Sergeant 23 1/2 years, retired in 2001. I am NOT a flag waver by no means, I served to stay out of prison and to be a productive citizen. Yet, I see this country going backwards to a time of hatred, preference and white supremacy, and it is evident that the powers that be want to remain in power at any cost. As a Black man in my early 60's, reparations and land are the only solution to centuries of murder, kidnapping, rape and bondage. Frederick Douglass's speech in 1852 (July 5th) illustrates America's lies and contradictions. The current alt right in the white house (45), consistently displays immorality and deception, just like the lying, self serving so-called "founding fathers!" Nothing has changed.
Sadly still accurate.
Relevant perhaps, but accurate? I think not.
-- Update: I have since gone through high school and started college. I acknowledge my statement was one of severe privilege and ignorance. It no longer represents my views or opinions. Stay safe y'all, may our country find itself enjoying a birthday soon where no one is deprived of freedom and justice.
What is accurate about this soeech in todays termes is his DESCRIPTION OF WHITE AMERICAN HYPOCRISY; THE RADICAL DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THEIR PROFESSED LOVE OF FREEDOM AND EQUALITY AND THE REALITY OF THEIR POLICIES ON RACE AND CLASS!!!!!
Playthell Benjamin true
Playthell Benjamin SO TRUE
@@miahjade7616 Care to revise your comment?
These words, sadly , are still true today.
So very true! And it's not over yet. We need to wake up before it's to late.
GREAT both voice and speech!!!
I share this every 4th
black man who give white men hope through his speach.. in ireland... opression make us are equal !!!!
Largely I agree. I am registered as an Independent and no allegiance to any party label. But the Democratic party only shifted the plantation to the welfare system which has led to the massive decline of African Americans. First slavery was forced and now it's preordained by false promises that will never happen. Worked in the projects in social field for 4.5 years and most of the dads are in prison. They were 17% of the populace in the 1970s and now are barely 13% and in decline still.
Frederic Douglass, ladies and gentlemen!!
Very poetic, I loved it. One day, some how, some way I hope that the United States will reconcile its dark past and move on.
You can hear the whole speech on TH-cam the whole thing is like 25 minutes and it’s incredible, listen at your own risk happy fourth?
Saying what needed - and still needs - to be said. We have much to learn from the injustices of the past, which keep on happening, sometimes in more subtle ways, and sometimes in jarringly NOT subtle ways. We are all the same under our skin - no matter what color skin we wear.
Still appropriate today.
Where else you gonna hear Frederick Douglass read by Lord Vader?
dagda54 Why are you the only comment metioning this?
You neglect to tell your viewers that this video contains a very small part of his speech. Here is a transcript of the entire speech: rbscp.lib.rochester.edu/2945
Thought i might do my own research today. I've always heard but never knew
Frederick Douglass would be glad to know his prediction of a society not caring about race is miles beyond what he had to endure
I ain't black, but there's a whole lot'a times I wish I could say I ain't white.
--Frank Zappa
Be proud of who you are just be different and educate people around you.
Great man, great speech
The fact that slave owners fought to get their independence is a contradiction. Don't forget that.
That's the biggest point in these comments that is bring overlooked
Brilliant man!
James Earl Jones is such a good speaker. Still find it hard to believe that he could barely speak when he was young due to severe stuttering.
Wonderful.
@TheGreaterGood80 - Thank you LORD for the great and brilliant man Dr. Frederick Douglass. Thank God for the love and spirit of Freedom and sacrifice
He's on POINT🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Hear the words, feel the message.
His words will ring true for a 1,000 years.
Best speech ever!
One of the great voices of the 20th Century reading one of the most important writers of the 19th? Awesome. I will definitely use this as a teaching tool, thank you.
(Although now I just want to hear JEJ as Darth Vader as Frederick Douglass.)
I love that in the undertone of the speech Douglas attacks the 2 difrent forms of racism with the La La left woke racism and the Right wing racism based on dogma. My favourite line of Douglass will be “I appear before you this evening as a thief and a robber. I stole this head, these limbs, this body from my master and ran off with them.”
He brings Douglass to Life
This speech is read each year in Boston. Link below to photo of the year I participated.
New 4th of July Prayer!!! Teach it to your kids!
I wish he was around to read me bed time stories when I was younger! *SIIIIIIMBAA*
JAMES EARL JONES IS MAGNIFICENT
@DHMIII State Citizenship is based entirely on the residency requirements of said states. Any citizen of the US can become a citizen of the various states by fulfilling the residency requirement of said state. Involuntary servitude was abolished along with slavery by the 13th amend. I will be happy to look into whatever you wish to show me. I am a citizen of the US and a resident of Canada. Both countries were touched by slavery and involuntary servitude. Very different outcomes though.
Damn his voice is powerful... when he talk you listen.
hes sooo lucky 2 have such a kick-ass voice
Much love Frederick Douglass
everyone should see this
POWERFUL!!!!!!
I spend the 4th of July in a Fredrick Douglas state of mind.
Yes he is the best Echo
Incredible
He was right then and he's right now!
Extraordinary orator and activist
Yet, with the slaves unable to rise up and throw off their yoke the way the Americans had 76 years before, it was the Northern white people who took up their cause in righteous anger, and fought a bloody war to set them free - brother against brother.
We are told to pray for forgiveness just as we forgive those who have hurt us. Now, we need to let go of old hurts and seek reconciliation.