Many authors use rhetorical questions in their writing, but Douglass seemed to use them differently in his speech. Mainly every question he asked, he immediately answered it. For example, “What, to the American slave, is your Fourth of July? I answer: a day that reveals to him, more than all other days in the year, the gross injustice and cruelty to which he is the constant victim” (Douglass 354). Douglass used rhetorical questions in order to get the audience thinking and involved in his speech. Another example of a rhetorical question in Douglass’ speech is, “What have I or those I represent, to do with your national independence” (Douglass 351)? In adding this question, Douglass was trying to get the point across that slaves-whose freedom is denied-do not share other American’s patriotic feelings about the Fourth of