The nationality of the pre-war slave is difficult to define. The first slaves were of African origin and it could therefore be argued that the great African continent is the source of their nationality. However, even if this were the case, this provision only applies to the first generation of Africans bound by American slavery. Well, what about slaves born in America? If one were to consider the main definition of nationality: "the status of membership in a particular nation, whether by birth or naturalization", then slaves born in America would be American, but are they (nationality ) ? “What is the 4th of July to the slave? » by Frederick Douglass. the speech sheds light on this ambiguous subject. Throughout Douglass' speech, he focuses on the flawed ideals of the American people and struggles to prove the worth of slaves. Given Douglass's stubborn determination to authenticate the worth of these slaves, as well as the general temperament of his speech, I assume that America's slaves were devoid of nationality. effective montage demonstrating the ills of a severely oppressed race. Among the plethora of ridicule, Douglass seems to focus on the bitter irony regarding America's independence and its decision to maintain slavery, as well as the extreme prejudice and mistreatment of slaves, and the hypocrisy of a nation that supposedly values ​​Christianity and freedoms. conveyed in the Declaration of Independence. Douglass extends his speech to highlight the unusual paradox of slavery in the land of the free. Douglass refutes the celebration of July 4 when he states:...... middle of article ......ary Approaches to Cultural Diversity 12.1 (2010): 4-15. Academic research completed. EBSCO. Internet. April 8, 2011. Ernest, John. “Liberation Historiography: African American Historians Before the Civil War.” American Literary History 14.3 (2002): 413-443. International Humanities completed. EBSCO. Internet. April 9, 2011.Haymes, Stephen Nathan. “‘We are not pigs, we are human flesh’: slave pedagogy and the problem of ontology in African-American slave culture.” Educational Studies 32.2 (2001): 129-157. Professional development collection. EBSCO. Internet. April 8, 2011. Mintz, Steven. “Frederick Douglass Reflects on the Status of African Americans.” OAH History Magazine 22.2 (2008): 49-52. MasterFILE First. EBSCO. Internet. April 8, 2011. “Nationality.” Dictionary.com full version. Random House, Inc. April 20. 2011. .