1/
Woke Critical Race Theorist Ibram Kendi celebrated July 4th by tweeting an edited version of Fredrick Douglas' speech "What to a Slave is the 4th of July?" where he cut out nearly everything about how great the Founders and the constitution are.
Don't worry, it's all here:
Woke Critical Race Theorist Ibram Kendi celebrated July 4th by tweeting an edited version of Fredrick Douglas' speech "What to a Slave is the 4th of July?" where he cut out nearly everything about how great the Founders and the constitution are.
Don't worry, it's all here:
2/
In fairness to @DrIbram I will include a link to his tweets here so you can make up your own mind.
In fairness to @DrIbram I will include a link to his tweets here so you can make up your own mind.
3/
Douglas says the Founders did not agree with the notion of "infallibility of governemnt and absolute charachte of its acts" and Douglas says his opinion "Fully accords with that of your fathers." Kendi leaves that part out
Douglas says the Founders did not agree with the notion of "infallibility of governemnt and absolute charachte of its acts" and Douglas says his opinion "Fully accords with that of your fathers." Kendi leaves that part out
4/ Perhaps he leaves that out because you can't give the federal government the power to be in charge of all local government as well as monitor public officials for possibly saying something racist (Which Kendi proposes) unless you think government is basically infallible.
5/
Kendi does include Douglas saying the people ought to cling to the constitution, but he leaves out the part where Douglas says that the Principles founds in the constitution are "saving principles", and the 4th of July is the "ring-bolt to the chain of the Nation's destiny."
Kendi does include Douglas saying the people ought to cling to the constitution, but he leaves out the part where Douglas says that the Principles founds in the constitution are "saving principles", and the 4th of July is the "ring-bolt to the chain of the Nation's destiny."
6/
Even as wokies tear down monuments of the founders and call them evil racists, Kendi omits Douglas calling the founders "great men", "statesmen", "patriots", "great in their day and generation," and saying he will "unite with you to honor their memory."
Gee, I wonder why? 🤔
Even as wokies tear down monuments of the founders and call them evil racists, Kendi omits Douglas calling the founders "great men", "statesmen", "patriots", "great in their day and generation," and saying he will "unite with you to honor their memory."
Gee, I wonder why? 🤔
7/
Now, Kendi includes Douglas saying "you may well Cherish the Memory of such men." But by omitting Douglas saying he will "Unite to honor the memory" of the founders, Kendi implies Douglas is saying YOU (white people) Cherish the memory of the founders. That wasn't the point
Now, Kendi includes Douglas saying "you may well Cherish the Memory of such men." But by omitting Douglas saying he will "Unite to honor the memory" of the founders, Kendi implies Douglas is saying YOU (white people) Cherish the memory of the founders. That wasn't the point
8/
Kendi also includes Douglas saying "they preferred revolution to peaceful submission to bondage." and "With them, nothing was settled that was not right." But this serves revolutionary politics, where Douglas (as we will see) LOVED the constitution and was it's ardent defender
Kendi also includes Douglas saying "they preferred revolution to peaceful submission to bondage." and "With them, nothing was settled that was not right." But this serves revolutionary politics, where Douglas (as we will see) LOVED the constitution and was it's ardent defender
9/
Kendi leaves out Douglas saying this : "the fathers of this republic, did, most deliberately, under the inspiration of a glorious patriotism, and with a sublime faith in the great principles of justice and freedom, lay deep the corner-stone of the national superstructure"
Kendi leaves out Douglas saying this : "the fathers of this republic, did, most deliberately, under the inspiration of a glorious patriotism, and with a sublime faith in the great principles of justice and freedom, lay deep the corner-stone of the national superstructure"
10/
The great American orator Fredrick Douglas speaks movingly about the GLORIOUS PATRIOTISM of the founding fathers and in a move soaked in cynical opportunism, Kendi leaves that out.
Speaking of GLORIOUS PATRIOTISM vs. cynical opportunism: check the dates
(h/t @redsteeze)
The great American orator Fredrick Douglas speaks movingly about the GLORIOUS PATRIOTISM of the founding fathers and in a move soaked in cynical opportunism, Kendi leaves that out.
Speaking of GLORIOUS PATRIOTISM vs. cynical opportunism: check the dates
(h/t @redsteeze)
11/
Kendi leaves out the line where Douglas says George Washington "could not die till he has broken the chains of his slaves." The greatness of Washington was such that, as Douglas tells it, his conscience would not let him go to the grave until he had freed his last slave.
Kendi leaves out the line where Douglas says George Washington "could not die till he has broken the chains of his slaves." The greatness of Washington was such that, as Douglas tells it, his conscience would not let him go to the grave until he had freed his last slave.
12/
Douglas defends due process. He decries a man (in this case, slaves) could lose freedom by the word of his accuser, without being allowed his own defense by biased judges. This is left out because due process may get in the way of the woke cultural revolution.
#MeToo
Douglas defends due process. He decries a man (in this case, slaves) could lose freedom by the word of his accuser, without being allowed his own defense by biased judges. This is left out because due process may get in the way of the woke cultural revolution.
#MeToo
13/
Kendi leaves out the section where Douglas defends both the constitution and the founders from accusations that they drafted a constitutions that was pro slavery and names legal experts of his time saying that the Constitution, properly interpreted, didn't allow Slavery:
Kendi leaves out the section where Douglas defends both the constitution and the founders from accusations that they drafted a constitutions that was pro slavery and names legal experts of his time saying that the Constitution, properly interpreted, didn't allow Slavery:
14/
Douglas then defends the idea that the constitution of the U.S. was not pro-slavery, nor was it intended to be. Douglas argues that slavery is never mentioned, you can only infer slavery is in the constitutions if you accept that it is IMPLIED. Now, Douglas is not naive....
Douglas then defends the idea that the constitution of the U.S. was not pro-slavery, nor was it intended to be. Douglas argues that slavery is never mentioned, you can only infer slavery is in the constitutions if you accept that it is IMPLIED. Now, Douglas is not naive....
15/
Douglas knows some people (see screen shots) think the Constitution was pro-slavery. Hey, Ibram Kendi even argued in his book "Stamped from the Beginning" that the founders "enshrined the power of slaveholders and racist ideas in the nation’s founding document." (p.116)
Douglas knows some people (see screen shots) think the Constitution was pro-slavery. Hey, Ibram Kendi even argued in his book "Stamped from the Beginning" that the founders "enshrined the power of slaveholders and racist ideas in the nation’s founding document." (p.116)
16/ but Douglas isn't having it. This is so important I am going to quote it all and then link the screen shot:
" In that instrument I hold there is neither warrant, license, nor sanction of the hateful thing; but, interpreted as it ought to be interpreted, the Constitution is...
" In that instrument I hold there is neither warrant, license, nor sanction of the hateful thing; but, interpreted as it ought to be interpreted, the Constitution is...
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is a GLORIOUS LIBERTY DOCUMENT. Read its preamble, consider its purposes. Is slavery among them? Is it at the gateway? or is it in the temple? It is neither. While I do not intend to argue this question on the present occasion, let me ask, if it be not somewhat singular...
is a GLORIOUS LIBERTY DOCUMENT. Read its preamble, consider its purposes. Is slavery among them? Is it at the gateway? or is it in the temple? It is neither. While I do not intend to argue this question on the present occasion, let me ask, if it be not somewhat singular...
18/
that, if the Constitution were intended to be, by its framers and adopters, a slave-holding instrument, why neither slavery, slaveholding, nor slave can anywhere be found in it. What would be thought of an instrument, drawn up, legally drawn up, for the purpose of...
that, if the Constitution were intended to be, by its framers and adopters, a slave-holding instrument, why neither slavery, slaveholding, nor slave can anywhere be found in it. What would be thought of an instrument, drawn up, legally drawn up, for the purpose of...
19/entitling the city of Rochester to a track of land, in which no mention of land was made?"
See his point?
See his point?
20/
Douglas is arguing that you can think the constitution is pro-slavery only if you interpret it divorced from its explicitly stated aims. Slavery persisted in-SPITE of those principles and aims. Douglas knew whatever compromises were made at the time the beating heart of...
Douglas is arguing that you can think the constitution is pro-slavery only if you interpret it divorced from its explicitly stated aims. Slavery persisted in-SPITE of those principles and aims. Douglas knew whatever compromises were made at the time the beating heart of...
21/ the constitution could not co-exist with slavery for long. And he argues that until they live up to the constitution and its ideals the Americans of the day would have no moral authority. That was his point.
Kendi, of course, leaves that entire section out.
Kendi, of course, leaves that entire section out.
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This is what Kendi does, he selectively quotes portions of the Douglas speech to craft an unfair narrative, while ignoring the things he doesn't like.
It isn't right.
/fin
This is what Kendi does, he selectively quotes portions of the Douglas speech to craft an unfair narrative, while ignoring the things he doesn't like.
It isn't right.
/fin
PS/
Fredrick Douglas split with abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison because Garrison said the constitution was pro-slavery (he said it a document from hell) and Douglas said it was anti-slavery. as I said, Douglas was not naive, he knew the other arguments, he just disagreed.
Fredrick Douglas split with abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison because Garrison said the constitution was pro-slavery (he said it a document from hell) and Douglas said it was anti-slavery. as I said, Douglas was not naive, he knew the other arguments, he just disagreed.
