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


  • Imperialist Militarism and the African Crisis
    Abayomi Azikiwe
    Imperialist Militarism and the African Crisis
    12 Oct 2022
    The U.S. Africa Command, AFRICOM, and all iterations of foreign interference bring instability to the African continent. 
  • Sanctioning the Horn of Africa
    Ann Garrison, BAR Contributing Editor , John Philpot
    Sanctioning the Horn of Africa
    07 Oct 2022
    Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Somalia have suffered from a variety of U.S. interventions over many years. Proxy wars and unilateral coercive measures, sanctions, are the tools used to prevent these nations…
  • Black Agenda Radio October 7, 2022
    Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley
    Black Agenda Radio October 7, 2022
    07 Oct 2022
    A national survey reveals that the criminal justice system neglects the needs of crime survivors, an October 19, 2022 hearing determines whether Mumia Abu Jamal may be able to appeal his conviction,…
  • Criminal Justice System Does Not Meet the Needs of Crime Survivors
    Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley
    Criminal Justice System Does Not Meet the Needs of Crime Survivors
    07 Oct 2022
    Aswad Thomas is Vice President of the Alliance for Safety and Justice. He joins us from Atlanta to discuss the Alliance’s recently released report, Crime Survivors Speak: A National Survey of Victims…
  • Mumia Abu Jamal Appeal Hearing on October 19
    Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley
    Mumia Abu Jamal Appeal Hearing on October 19
    07 Oct 2022
    Gwen Debrow is a member of the Campaign to Bring Mumia Home and the #LoveNotPhear Campaign. She joins us from New York City to discuss mobilizing for the next stage of Mumia Abu Jamal’s…
  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with us
about us
contact us