"What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?" is a speech delivered by Frederick Douglass on July 5, 1852, in Rochester, New York. Douglass, a former enslaved African American who became a leading abolitionist and orator, delivered this powerful address to a predominantly white audience on the anniversary of American independence.

In his speech, Douglass challenged the hypocrisy of celebrating freedom and independence while millions of African Americans remained enslaved in the United States. He highlighted the stark contrast between the ideals of liberty and justice proclaimed in the Declaration of Independence and the lived experiences of enslaved individuals who were denied basic human rights and treated as property.

Douglass' speech remains a significant moment in Black history as it exposed the deep-rooted racism and injustice within American society, while also calling for an end to slavery and full equality for all people. His words continue to resonate today as a powerful reminder of the ongoing struggle for freedom, justice, and equality in the United States.