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


  • Is Freedom White?
    Jefferson Cowie
    Is Freedom White?
    30 Sep 2020
    Now as in the past, much of the talk about American “freedom” is really about white people’s presumed right to dominate everyone else. 
  • Racism and Health
    Margaret Flowers
    Racism and Health
    30 Sep 2020
    The racist roots of healthcare in this country run as deep as the slavery underpinnings of policing. 
  • Hunger in America, Especially for Children, Has “Skyrocketed” During Pandemic
    Jon Schwarz
    Hunger in America, Especially for Children, Has “Skyrocketed” During Pandemic
    30 Sep 2020
    Census data show 19 percent of Black households did not have enough food to eat in the past week, compared to 7 percent of white households.
  • How Criminal Cops Often Avoid Jail
    Andrew Ford
    How Criminal Cops Often Avoid Jail
    30 Sep 2020
    Dozens of New Jersey officers who have been criminally charged with official misconduct avoided the jail time called for under the law.
  • Fear and Russia-Loathing in the National Lawyers Guild
    Riva Enteen
    Fear and Russia-Loathing in the National Lawyers Guild
    30 Sep 2020
    Trump’s election, Russiagate and the smear campaign against Julian Assange have deluded and disoriented many “left” organizations.
  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with us
about us
contact us