On July 5, 1852, Frederick Douglass stood before an abolitionist group and gave one of his most famous speeches: "What To The Slave Is The Fourth of July?" That speech confronted the hypocrisy of an Independence Day in a country that still endorsed the bondage and forced labor of more than 1 in 8 of its residents. In July 2020, @npr asked five Douglass descendants to read and respond to excerpts of that speech. They reflected on America's ongoing pursuit of liberty and justice for all. This proj

"He single handedly was charged with the task of refuting every racist stereotype about Black people through one means: his voice.” HBO original documentary #FrederickDouglassHBO revisits and brings to life the famous orator’s words that called out American hypocrisy and challenged the nation to live up to its founding principles. Premieres February 23 on HBO Max. | HBO Documentary Films