Answer: The great distance between slaves and citizens
In his speech "What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?" Frederick Douglass presents his impressions on the celebration of the Fourth of July. He emphasizes the struggle for liberty of the Founding Fathers and the fact that the young age of America means there is much room for hope. However, he also states that the celebration is very different for slaves and whites. He argues that "your high independence only reveals the immeasurable distance between us." Douglass is reminded that the values of independence (justice, liberty, prosperity, independence) are not shared equally among all citizens.
