What to the slave ( And the Native American and everyone else in the mix) is the Fourth of July?

                The fourth of July is a day that signifies liberty and justice within many Americans, but the question arises as to whether or not the same feeling resonates within every person residing in the “Land of The Free.”  Fredrick Douglass’s speech What to the Slave is the Fourth of July notes his discontent for the historically marked day. “This Fourth of July is yours, not mine.” To the slave, decedents of the slave, or any other oppressed group in America, what exactly would the significance of the Fourth of July be? Sure had the British not of given the United States its independence the country would not be in existence today, but when the founding fathers created the land and laws we live in today, all but one group was excluded. For the Native American who was stripped of their homeland, dignity, and respect what would be the significance of a day that is meant to represent freedom? I feel as though for a large group of people in the country, the supposed day of liberty only brings feelings of contempt.  Given that I am a first generation American to parents of African descent I always appreciated the holiday but never felt as though I could relate to its true significance. Now my question for you is, do you feel the significance of the Fourth of July or is it just another day of the year?