Oration by Frederich Douglass (1876)
The Oration by Douglass (1876) consists of a speech given by Frederick Douglass during the unveiling of the Freedmen’s Monument. The unveiling was done in remembrance of Abraham Lincoln and other African American citizens who fought for the abolition of slavery and the unity of all Americans. Frederick Douglass was a black orator, writer, and abolitionist back in the 19th century. He was once held captive as a slave in Maryland, where he escaped and moved to Massachusetts where he became the leader of the nationalist movement there. Frederick’s eloquence in English was very peculiar at the time because blacks were commonly known as illiterate and unintelligent. His oratory, therefore, became a best seller and the original copy preserved for future historical studies.
The book was written on April 14th, 1876, and was intended for celebrating leaders who took part in eradicating the inhuman slave trade in the country. The font size and style used in writing all show the antiquity of these writings. The speech was given in Lincoln Park in Washington D.C. The speech begins off by giving thanks and congratulating the people who had managed to arrive at the event. Douglass first recognizes their respect for all races in the United States by appreciating their presence to commemorate a leader who actively took part in the abolition of the slave trade, and coming to pay attention to him, a fugitive of an enslaved land. He states that “Harmless, beautiful, proper, and praiseworthy as this demonstration is, I can not forget that no such demonstration would have been tolerated twenty years ago,” (Frederick, 1876).
Frederick also praises Lincoln’s decisions to end slavery in America despite him being white. He brings to his audience’s attention that since he was white, he was by nature the white man’s president (pg.5). He explains that he had all the authority and the mandate to provide what his people wanted, even if this meant the pain and agony of the colored race, and yet, he chose to support the weaker and incapable blacks which meant going against most his own people. He consequently celebrates Lincoln’s bravery. Furthermore, he identifies him as the first martyr president because of his decision to put his life on the line for the sake of the Black Community.
During this time Douglass is a well-known writer after the publishing of his autobiography, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass which drew large audiences by the fact that such literary works could also be written by a former slave. He, therefore, uses this popularity to make it known to the people the adversaries that racial discrimination is having on them. During this time slave trade has been banned but there are still some states engaging in the practice. Racial segregation is very rampant in the country and Douglass wishes to address how such inequality will lead to lagged development of not just the economy but our social structures. The document can be used to shed more light on the slave trade in the past and leaders who actively took part in ending slavery.
References
Douglass, F. (1876). Oration by Frederick Douglass Delivered on the Occasion of the Unveiling of the Freedman’s Monument in Memory of Abraham Lincoln. April, 14, 4-5.