Meaning of Fourth of July - Essay Example

Though the American population celebrates the day with great vigor and patriotism, the younger generation lacks the knowledge of the true meaning of the Fourth of July.
Frederick Douglass defined the celebration of the Fourth of July from the point of view of an African American in his 1852 speech in Rochester, New York. At that time, slavery of African Americans was at its peak and he was the first to address the feelings true of an American Slave toward the celebration of Fourth of July as he sees it as “mere bombast, fraud, deception, impiety, and hypocrisy […covering] up crimes which would disgrace a nation of savages” (Douglass).

The Declaration of Independence was not only about getting independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain but was also about freedom, equality, and liberty. The members of the Continental Congress firmly believed that “all men are created equal” and thus have certain “unalienable rights” including those of “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” (Digital History). They made it clear in the declaration that it is the responsibility of the government to secure these rights of every American citizen and should a government fail to do so, or become a threat itself, the people have the right to “alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government”(Digital History). These are the foundations that were laid by the forefathers of America and this is where the true meaning of Fourth of July lies.

In a study conducted by the National Assessment of Educational Progress in 2011, it was found that only 25 percent of fourth-grade students were aware of the purpose of the Declaration of Independence while 26 percent of the total adults surveyed by a public opinion institute were not aware of the fact that America gained independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain (Shammas). It is clear from this survey that the true spirit of the Fourth of July is dying.

For me, the  Fourth of July is still about freedom, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness not just for myself, but for all Americans. Unfortunately, the speech made by Frederick Douglas is still true today as not all Americans have these rights today. Many minorities are still a victim of hate crimes, such as Muslims. Since the attacks of September 11, all American Muslims have been stereotyped and more than a decade later are still facing difficulty in settling in (Smith). Similarly, the fundamental rights of Americans are being gradually taken away by the government under the disguise of “safety from terrorism”.To prevent terrorism in the country, the government has introduced many laws that allow the government to take away the freedom and liberty of the citizens on mere suspicion without evidence (Kennedy and Kennedy). Read More