'What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?' is a speech delivered by the renowned abolitionist Frederick Douglass on July 5, 1852, in Rochester, New York. In his speech, Douglass powerfully critiques the hypocrisy of celebrating freedom and independence while millions of African Americans remained enslaved in the United States. He eloquently exposes the stark contrast between the ideals of liberty and equality enshrined in the Declaration of Independence and the harsh realities faced by Black Americans.

Douglass's speech is a powerful indictment of the institution of slavery and a call to action for the American people to live up to the principles of justice and equality for all. His words continue to resonate today as a reminder of the ongoing struggle for racial equality and justice in the United States.