Author Casey Gerald on Frederick Douglass and the Meaning of July 4

KQED's Forum

KQED

Politics, News, News Commentary

4.6 • 656 Ratings

🗓️ 3 July 2020

⏱️ 54 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

On July 5, 1852, Frederick Douglass delivered a speech titled "What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?" -- calling attention to the hypocrisy of the Declaration of Independence and its claim that "all men are created equal.” Today, amid protests against racism and a growing Black Lives Matter movement, equality is still a goal in progress. And the promises of "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" ring differently, and perhaps more profoundly, in an ongoing pandemic that continues to claim both lives and livelihoods. Still, America and its ideals persist. This hour, we’ll talk to author Casey Gerald about Douglass’ speech and the current challenges we face as a nation, and hear what the Fourth of July means to you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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0:00.0	Support for Forum comes from Rancho La Puerta, a wellness resort in Baja, California, just an hour from San Diego.
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0:35.7	From three-time Tony-winning composer Jason Robert Brown comes the story of
0:40.0	Leo and Lucille Frank, a newlywed Jewish couple struggling to make a life in Georgia. When Leo is
0:46.9	accused of an unspeakable crime, it propels them into an unimaginable test of faith, humanity, justice,
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1:03.5	The riveting and gloriously hopeful parade plays the Orpheum Theater for three weeks only, May 20th through June 8th.
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1:10.5	From KQED. From KQED. From KQED, I'm Arianna, in Fermina Kim. On July 5th, 1852, Frederick
1:30.3	Douglas delivered a speech titled, What to the Slave is the 4th of July? Calling attention to the
1:35.3	hypocrisy of the Declaration of Independence and its claim that all men are created equal. Today, amid
1:40.5	protests against racism and a growing Black Lives Matter movement, equality is still a goal in progress.
1:46.5	And the promises of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness ring differently and perhaps more profoundly in an ongoing pandemic that continues to claim both lives and livelihoods.
1:56.2	Still, America and its ideals persist.
1:59.2	This hour will talk to author Casey Gerald about Douglas's speech
2:02.3	and the current challenges we face as a nation and hear what the 4th of July means to you. That's next
2:07.4	after this news. Welcome to Forum. I'm Ariana Prail in for Mina Kim.
2:15.2	The rich inheritance of justice, liberty, prosperity, and independence bequeathed by your
2:22.8	fathers, it's shared by you, not by me.
	...

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