Frederick Douglass, Ida B. Wells, and Martin Luther King, Jr.

Frederick Douglass, Ida B. Wells, and Martin Luther King, Jr.

Frederick Douglass:

The meaning of July Fourth for the Negro. Never have I thought about the true meaning of the 4th of July. As far back as I can remember, I thought it was a big celebration of our country’s independence. Little did we know that only half of our country was celebrating its independence. Listening and reading Frederick Douglass’s speech has highlighted how divided our country went back to the 1800s and still is today, 2023, just a different way.

After the revolution, I can only imagine that most people thought the independence in 1776 would free the enslaved people. The distrust and feeling of unfavorable with limited power of speech required much consideration and a short presentation lacking public speaking experience. But Frederick Douglass knew he needed to discuss slavery and the Declaration of Independence. Because African Americans are still enslaved and are not free, he insisted I’m not speaking or celebrating on the 4th of July until they are free. Our Declaration of Independence talks about all men being equal.

According to Douglass, how do slaves view patriotic celebrations like the Fourth of July? The slave had little anticipatory and grief that they would be free one day. However, a cost caused the suffering of people of color that paid for the white man’s wealth. Some black men and women, boys and girls, had lost their lives in the process. The slave feels the Fourth of July is a hardship of long hours and sad tales.

Yet looking at what has happened in the past years and today, that’s not true. Frederick Douglass’s speech has even a significant impact on us today. Looking back over the last ten years, it seems to be even more divided than ever before. When we elected our first Black President, most thought our country was progressing. However, that was not the case; it only fueled the flames. And it did! How can we say that everyone has independence without violating one right against injustice? To capture or enslave people of color for the wealth of the white is injustice and disproportionate to equal rights. However, in his speech, he talks about”… forces in operation which must invertedly work the downfall of slavery” during those times. Today we must work to dismantle the ideology of prejudice, and the unbalance in the legal system.

Ida B. Wells:

Lynch Law in America of (1900). The article by Ida B. Wells has some actual curious talking points. Very interesting how the law only protects a few of the population, primarily white in America. Ida talks about how the justification of a white woman abused by black men- is commonly offered to justify the practice of the behavior of lynching. The statement of “ intelligent white people/taking the law into their own hands to convict black people without a trial.”  What is “unwritten law?” Individual/s opposing our current law to punish individuals or groups giving immediate judicial decisions taking the authority into their own hands.

How does Wells turn the accusations of Whites against Black men around? During those years, the quote “unwritten law’ can pose a punishment for black men charging them with a crime, whether innocent or the perpetrators. Over the last eight years, we have seen how divided our country is, and laws are for people based on their ethnic background or social standings. Ida talks about the crimes against women as we see this in our daily lives. Today we see this more in the white population against women or disfranchised women of color mostly. Unfortunately, the world has not healed or progressed in having a balance within our legal system for all people where justice needs to be applied. Our system is a battle between the white and non-white races. However, when this happens, this will challenge our judicial system.

What does Wells say about the publicness of lynchings? People of color were treated inhumanely with a lack of sensitivity for those individuals and the cold heart that some white people bestowed towards their fellow man. Imagine what one will go through in torture, yet these individuals remain strong in not confessing to a crime they did not commit. The mob lynching by justifying their own palliate as superior to the corruption and crime by white men toward black men against white women is justified. The black man repudiated their innocence for years. But many have lost their lives due to the lynching of the unwritten laws. As white men have been abusers of power for many years, most white men of his race usually will not be charged with a crime. The only difference between the 1900 and 2100 century we do not have lynching taking place, but the abuse of non-white still exists today.

Martin Luther King Jr.:

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s statement, “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop,” yet what message is he sending to the people? The understanding is that he is the leader in the crusade to fight for all injustice for all men and women, girls and boys, and the black people who experience abuse, lynching, and torturing at the hand of police and white men. Now I understand his last speech that was given. In the ’60s, Martin Luther King talks about how people of color do not have the same rights as white people. The fight and struggles among black people are in the power of the number to fight against injustice for black people to form unity throughout the black community.

How does King discuss the motives and feelings of those (especially ministers) afraid to fight for social justice? In his speech, he talks about “…scratching where they didn’t itch, and laughing when they were not tickled…” (https://youtu.be/ixfwGLxRJU8, 1968). What does this mean? That statement reflects that black people are unwelcome and turn hate into laughter. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. fought for the black community and had to unite the community of all colors to support the change for equal rights for all people. He discusses the equality for the black race collectively to fight against slavery—the abuse of power. To bring together a movement to protect our freedom and against injustice. A sign in the picture’s background states “Growth and Process,” which could not be more accurate (https://youtu.be/ixfwGLxRJU8, 1968). Listening to his speech has America changed how non-whites are being treated today.

The difference is only by 1960, and today 2023 still has the same issues of prejudice. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, “we have the injunction to fight this illegal and unconstitutional injunction.” The fight continues against racism in our country and many parts of the world. We seem to have two worlds divided into whites and non-whites, the same for the legal system. However, the power of knowledge with education strengthens our community to help combat racism and discrimination. For each individual with the inner strength to give their motivation and desire to fight discrimination and racism against people of color or disenfranchised groups!

Written By: Greg MD