What Role Is The Educated Slave Race By Frederick Douglass

In the 19th century and early 20th century, black orators and educators openly demeaned both American legal and social systems . Discourse ranged from discussing the surprisingly ignored “manhood” of slaves, to the rights guaranteed to slaves, and to the want for colored youth education. Leading these discussions were Frederick Douglass - an abolitionist tyrant admonishing American slavery, lynching, and women’s rights; Henry McNeal Turner - a Georgia legislator; and Mary Church Terrell - a civil and women’s-rights activist, lecturer, and suffragist. Within Douglass’ What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?, Turner’s Speech to the Georgia Legislature, and Turrell’s article What Role Is the Educated Negro Woman to Play in Uplifting of Her Race,
According to Douglass, the “rich inheritance of justice, liberty, prosperity, and independence” expressed in America’s Declaration of Independence and Fourth of July were not “extended” neither to enslaved black Americans nor the “Negro race”. White Americans freely celebrated the Fourth of July while millions of enslaved and free black Americans suffered from “the wrongfulness of slavery”. Douglass’ American slavery tirade on the Fourth of July embodies the urgency and need for abolition. Turner speaks on the same issue over fourteen year later, a testament to American “cowardice” and “pusillanimity”. The American system, eager to “make war upon” black Americans, punished white representatives who worked towards securing rights for black Americans without hesitation. This issue was not only for black men; in fact, as stated by Turrell, both black and white American men ignored the contributions of “Colored women” for “[regenerating] and [uplifting]” black Americans across the country. America’s “political freedom” and calls for “natural justice” were extended neither to black men nor
Each orator calls to black audiences - either free or enslaved - and white audiences alike to work toward improving civil rights for black Americans. In particular, Terrell speaks to “Colored women of education”. In her essay, Terrell urges classed colored women “all over the country” to begin inculcating “correct principles” and setting “good examples” for the youth through the “gospel of cleanliness”. Terrell further extends her pleas to increase black American employment by asking “every wage-earning colored women” to offer their “best service”, thereby contributing to improving the “reputation” of black Americans.We also see calls to action in Turner’s speech to the Georgia legislature when he asks black men to “Never lift a finger nor raise a hand in defense of Georgia” and the predominately-white legislature for the civil “RIGHTS” of black