Black Agenda Report
Black Agenda Report
News, commentary and analysis from the black left.

  • Home
  • Africa
  • African America
  • Education
  • Environment
  • International
  • Media and Culture
  • Political Economy
  • Radio
  • US Politics
  • War and Empire

"What to the Slave is the 4th of July?" read by Ossie Davis
Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley
01 Jul 2022
🖨️ Print Article

Black Agenda Radio · "What to the Slave is the 4th of July?" read by Ossie Davis

On July 5, 1852 Frederick Douglass was asked to speak on the topic of the nation’s independence celebration. Now known as "What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?", the speech was a stinging indictment of slavery in the U.S., but the words are still relevant to Black people 170 years later. The late Ossie Davis read excerpts from Douglass’s remarks.

Slavery in U.S.
Frederick Douglass

Related Podcasts

Frederick Douglass
Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley
"What to the Slave is the 4th of July?" read by Ossie Davis
03 July 2024
As we grow closer to the Fourth of July, BAR once again shares
Twenty Dollars and Change: Harriet Tubman and the Ongoing Fight for Racial Justice and Democracy
Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley
Twenty Dollars and Change: Harriet Tubman and the Ongoing Fight for Racial Justice and Democracy
03 March 2023
Black Agenda Radio July 1, 2022
Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley
Black Agenda Radio July 1, 2022
01 July 2022
We discuss reproductive justice in the wake of the supreme court ruling which overturned the Roe v. Wade decision.

More Stories


  • Liberal Fascism Rears Its Ugly Head in the #ProtectMueller Campaign
    Danny Haiphong , BAR contributor
    Liberal Fascism Rears Its Ugly Head in the #ProtectMueller Campaign
    20 Nov 2018
    Enemies of the people do not become heroes of the people just because Trump dislikes them and they dislike Trump. “Mueller is a pig agent of the ruling class.”
  • This Law Helps Police Get Away With Murder. Let's End It.
    Cat Brooks
    This Law Helps Police Get Away With Murder. Let's End It.
    20 Nov 2018
    Officers, who are armed and tasked to serve and protect, should be held to a higher standard than the rest of us, not a lower one.
  • Julian Assange in US Intel’s Company Town
    Ann Garrison , BAR contributor
    Julian Assange in US Intel’s Company Town
    20 Nov 2018
    The Trump Justice Department seems to be preparing to do what the Obama Justice Department would not do: put Julian Assange on trial.
  • BAR Book Forum: Suzy Hansen’s “Notes on a Foreign Country“and Carrie Bramen’s “American Niceness”
    Roberto Sirvent, BAR Book Forum Editor
    BAR Book Forum: Suzy Hansen’s “Notes on a Foreign Country“and Carrie Bramen’s “American Niceness”
    20 Nov 2018
    How do Americans, especially white Americans, appear to the rest of the world, and are they really as “nice” as they think they are?
  • Prisoner Prophet: Revisiting George Jackson's Analysis of Systemic Fascism
    Colin Jenkins
    Prisoner Prophet: Revisiting George Jackson's Analysis of Systemic Fascism
    20 Nov 2018
    Trump is not bringing fascism to America, but rather, fascism was built into the American project from day one.
  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with us
about us
contact us