"What, To a Slave, isthe Fourth of July?"

Question

by Frederick Douglass
But such is not the state of the case. I say it with asad sense of the disparity between us. I am notincluded within the pale of glorious anniversary! Yourhigh independence only reveals the immeasurabledistance between us. The blessings in which you,this day, rejoice, are not enjoyed in common. Therich inheritance of justice, liberty, prosperity andindependence, bequeathed by your fathers, isshared by you, not by me. The sunlight that broughtlight and healing to you, has brought stripes anddeath to me. This Fourth July is yours, not mine. Youmay rejoice, I must mourn. To drag a man in fettersinto the grand illuminated temple of liberty, and callupon him to join you in joyous anthems, wereinhuman mockery and sacrilegious irony.
What, to a Slave, is the Fourth of July?
A)
Use the passage to answer the question.
What is the purpose of the use of juxtapositionin the passage?
(1 point)
to question the legality of America’s
independence
to push for civil protections for minority
groups
to compare interpretations of a national
holiday
to celebrate America’s founding ideals

Answer 1

The purpose of the use of juxtaposition in the passage is to compare interpretations of a national holiday. Frederick Douglass contrasts the joyous celebration of Independence Day by the free citizens with the sorrow and mourning experienced by enslaved individuals, highlighting the stark disparity between their experiences and perspectives on the holiday.