Howard Zinn: Fourth of July Commentary

In 2000, Howard Zinn issued a "Fourth of July Commentary." He begins with the admission that "I cannot comment more meaningfully on the Fourth of July than Frederick Douglass did when he was invited in 1852 to give an Independence Day address."

Zinn then goes on to cite Douglass at length, concluding with quoting the following passage:

"Go and search wherever you will, roam through all the monarchies and despotisms of the Old World, travel through South America, search out every abuse and when you have found the last, lay your facts by the side of the everyday practices of this nation, and you will say with me that, for revolting barbarity and shameless hypocrisy, American reigns without a rival...."