The U.S. celebrates this Independence Day amid nationwide protests and calls for systemic reforms. In this short film, five young descendants of American social reformer and abolitionist Frederick Douglass read and respond to excerpts of his famous speech, "What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?" speech which asks all of us to consider America's long history of denying equal rights to Black Americans. The speakers range in age from 12 to 20; after reading Douglass' speech, their timeless spirit and youthful sincerity offer insightful commentary on othering and belonging in modern-day United States.