first read: comprehension\nidentify the choice that best answers the question.\nin his fourth of july…

first read: comprehension\nidentify the choice that best answers the question.\nin his fourth of july speech, why does douglass say to his audience that \the fourth of july is yours, not mine\?\n○ a. he believes that, too often, african americans such as himself are excluded from celebrations of public holidays.\n○ b. he believes that enslaved persons should not celebrate the fourth until they have earned their freedom.\n○ c. he and others like him do not believe in some of the key values represented by the holiday.\n○ d. he contends that the liberty affirmed by the holiday has been denied to african americans such as himself.

first read: comprehension\nidentify the choice that best answers the question.\nin his fourth of july speech, why does douglass say to his audience that \the fourth of july is yours, not mine\?\n○ a. he believes that, too often, african americans such as himself are excluded from celebrations of public holidays.\n○ b. he believes that enslaved persons should not celebrate the fourth until they have earned their freedom.\n○ c. he and others like him do not believe in some of the key values represented by the holiday.\n○ d. he contends that the liberty affirmed by the holiday has been denied to african americans such as himself.

Answer

Brief Explanations:

Douglass, a former slave, was acutely aware of the hypocrisy of celebrating freedom and independence (the essence of the Fourth of July) while African - Americans were still enslaved and denied basic liberties. The statement “The Fourth of July is yours, not mine” is a powerful critique. Option A is too general about public holidays (not specifically about the core value of liberty). Option B is incorrect as it implies a moral judgment on enslaved people celebrating, which is not in line with Douglass's message. Option C is wrong because Douglass and other African - Americans did believe in the values of liberty and independence (they just weren't granted them). Option D correctly points out that the liberty (a key value of the Fourth of July) was denied to African - Americans like Douglass.

Answer:

D. He contends that the liberty affirmed by the holiday has been denied to African Americans such as himself.