The Hypocrisy of American Slavery: The Problem (Sentences 28-35) Summary

American Beauty—er, Hypocrisy

  • Don't get Douglass wrong: slavery is bad all the time, but it looks even worse on the Fourth of July.
  • If ideals like liberty and humanity and documents like the Constitution and the Bible were really important to Americans, Douglass argues, Americans wouldn't stand for slavery.
  • Hold Douglass' drink while he goes off on American slavery for a little bit.
  • But you know he's not wrong, Douglass says. Unless you really in your heart of hearts are okay with slavery, you have to admit he's right.