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
03 Jul 2024
🖨️ Print Article

Black Agenda Radio · "What to the Slave is the 4th of July?" read by Ossie Davis
As we grow closer to the Fourth of July, BAR once again shares this piece - a reading of "What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?" read by Ozzie 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
Frederick Douglass
July 4th

Related Podcasts

Gerald Horne
Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley
Gerald Horne Discusses His Book "The Capital of Slavery: Washington DC 1800 - 1865"
27 June 2025
Dr. Gerald Horne is an author and historian who currently holds the John J.
Black Agenda Radio
Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley
Black Agenda Radio March 7, 2025
07 March 2025
In this week’s segment we discuss the continued genocide in Gaza despite the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas.
Rikers Island
Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley
Rikers Island, Slave Catching, and the Modern Carceral State
07 March 2025
Darren Mack is co-founder and co-director of Freedom Agenda, an organization devoted to d

More Stories


  • Trayvon Martin and Abdulrahman al-Awlaki
    Editors, The Black Agenda Review
    ESSAY: Assassinations at Home and Abroad, Jemima Pierre, 2012
    03 Jul 2024
    The US Supreme Court’s decision to grant the President of the United States “absolute immunity” merely codifies criminal behavior by all US presidents. Take, for example, Barack Obama’s assassination…
  • Ann Garrison, BAR Contributing Editor
    Democrats No Longer Have an Excuse for Holding a Virtual Convention
    03 Jul 2024
    Biden’s debate meltdown has Democrats scrambling, but they no longer have an excuse for holding a virtual convention.
  • Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
    Debate: What are elephant excrement/donkey dung ‘Double-Hater’ Millions to do?
    03 Jul 2024
    "Debate: What are elephant excrement/donkey dung ‘Double-Hater’ Millions to do?" is the latest from BAR's Poet-in-Residence.
  • Abayomi Azikiwe, Black Agenda Report Contributor
    Political Deadlock Continues in Efforts to Open Peace Talks in Sudan
    03 Jul 2024
    The SAF still accuses the United Arab Emirates of supporting the RSF and the crisis continues for the people of Sudan.
  • Kossi “Ayomide” Paul
    France, its Far-right, and Africa: An Update on the Ongoing Parliamentary Elections
    03 Jul 2024
    France's recent parliamentary elections indicate a rapid political shift to the right. Africans both on the continent - where several nations remain French neo-colonies - and in France will…
  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with us
about us
contact us