Frederick Douglass' Descendants Read His 4th of July Speech

[BumRushDaShow]

1. Douglass was 35 when that speech was given

It's a remarkable piece given he was born just over 25 years after the ratification of the Constitution.

It was nice to see some of his young descendants do this project because they can really see how some things really haven't changed, yet other things have actually changed, with the caveat that we still have a long way to go to keep any positive change stable (which is probably what Douglass figured in any case).

Douglass did live to see the Civil War come and go and slaves freed, but then he also witnessed how what lead to a "reconstruction" of a nation where previously marginalized people could finally freely participate, eventually get torn asunder just before he died. In essence he saw what would become a "Wash. Rinse. Repeat." type of oppressive cycle brought on by those who were unwilling to give up their perceived power, and vowed to take it back.

Thanks for posting!