Douglass vs. Gladwell: Contrasting Essays

• Frederick Douglass's "What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?" and Malcolm Gladwell's "The Revolting Truth" are distinct in purpose, context, and style.
• Douglass's speech is a passionate critique of American hypocrisy regarding slavery, delivered in 1852.
• Gladwell's piece examines the complexities of food preferences and challenges common assumptions about taste and consumer behavior, written in a contemporary context.

Douglass's "What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?"

• The speech was delivered on July 5, 1852, to the Rochester Ladies' Anti-Slavery Society.
• Douglass uses the occasion of celebrating the Fourth of July to highlight the stark contrast between the ideals of freedom and equality enshrined in the Declaration of Independence and the reality of slavery.
• He argues that for the enslaved, the Fourth of July is not a day of celebration but a reminder of the injustice and cruelty they endure.
• The speech employs powerful rhetoric, including irony, sarcasm, and emotional appeals, to convey the moral outrage against slavery.
• Douglass emphasizes the hypocrisy of white Americans who celebrate freedom while simultaneously perpetuating slavery.
• He questions how enslaved people can participate in celebrations of national independence when they are denied basic human rights.
• Douglass points out the contradiction between the principles of liberty and equality and the existence of slavery.
• He asserts that the Constitution, when properly interpreted, does not support slavery, aligning with abolitionist arguments of the time.
• Douglass expresses hope for the future, believing that the principles of justice and equality will eventually prevail.
• The speech is a call to action, urging his audience to recognize the inhumanity of slavery and to work towards its abolition.

Gladwell's "The Revolting Truth"

• Gladwell's article explores the science of taste and challenges conventional wisdom about what makes food appealing.
• He discusses the work of Howard Moskowitz, a food scientist who revolutionized the food industry by focusing on sensory-specific satiety and the segmentation of consumer preferences.
• The article examines how Moskowitz's research led to the creation of a multitude of variations of existing products, such as different flavors of soda.
• Gladwell delves into the idea that there is no universal perfect product but rather a range of preferences and tastes that cater to different individuals.
• He critiques the traditional approach of trying to find the single best product that appeals to everyone.
• Gladwell explores the concept of "horizontal segmentation," where products are tailored to meet specific consumer preferences.
• The article touches on the impact of cultural and personal experiences on shaping taste preferences.
• Gladwell's writing style is characterized by a blend of storytelling, scientific explanation, and insightful analysis.
• The piece raises questions about the role of choice and variety in consumer culture.
• Gladwell's article is primarily concerned with understanding consumer behavior and the science of taste, rather than addressing social or political issues.

Comparison

• Douglass's speech is a direct condemnation of a specific social injustice i.e. slavery, whereas Gladwell's article addresses the complexities of consumer preferences and the science of taste.
• Douglass uses his speech as a tool for social change and moral persuasion. Gladwell aims to inform and provoke thought about the nature of taste and consumer behavior.
• Douglass employs emotional and persuasive rhetoric, while Gladwell uses a more analytical and narrative approach.
• Douglass's speech is rooted in the historical context of the abolitionist movement and the struggle for racial equality. Gladwell's article reflects contemporary consumer culture and the food industry's approach to product development.
• Douglass's work carries a sense of urgency and moral imperative, calling for immediate action to end slavery. Gladwell's article is more exploratory, inviting readers to reconsider their assumptions about taste and choice.
• Douglass appeals to universal principles of justice and humanity, arguing that slavery is a violation of these principles. Gladwell appeals to scientific research and consumer psychology to explain the diversity of taste preferences.
• Douglass seeks to expose the hypocrisy of a nation that celebrates freedom while denying it to a significant portion of its population. Gladwell seeks to deconstruct the myth of the "perfect" product and highlight the importance of catering to individual tastes.
• While Douglass's message is timeless in its call for equality and justice, Gladwell's analysis is specific to the context of modern consumer culture.
• Douglass's speech is a powerful indictment of a specific historical injustice, Gladwell's article is an exploration of the complexities of taste and consumer behavior.
• Both works are thought-provoking and insightful but serve different purposes and operate within different spheres of discourse.

Gladwell's "The Revolting Truth" (Additional Notes)

• Written by Malcolm Gladwell and published on July 4, 1993.
• Gladwell reflects on learning that the American colonists who sought independence from England were, in his view, not idealistic freedom fighters, but "whiners, welshers, and tax cheats."
• He explains that this realization occurred in Mr. Speck's seventh-grade history class in Canada.
• Gladwell argues that the American Revolution was sparked by the colonists' unwillingness to contribute to the defense and upkeep of the continent after Britain's victory in the Seven Years' War.
• The British Parliament faced a deficit of over 130 million pounds due to the colonists' resistance to new taxes.
• The author suggests the Declaration of Independence was a "manifesto of tax evasion" that should have been signed on April 15 (tax day) instead of July 4.
• The British wanted to maintain an army of 7,500 men in America after the Seven Years' War, mainly for the benefit of the 13 colonies by keeping the French and Spanish out as well as defending against Indian tribes.
• The colonies were asked to pay only a fraction of the 200,000 pounds needed annually for this army.
• The tax burden on Americans was far lower than that of British taxpayers, with Americans paying about six pence a year compared to 25 shillings for the average Briton.
• He points out that Sugar Act of 1764, often bemoaned, dramatically reduced the tariff on molasses to encourage compliance, which upset molasses smugglers.
• The Tea Act of 1773 allowed the East India Tea Company to sell directly to America, reducing the cost of legitimate British tea below smuggled Dutch tea.
• Colonists, however, protected their smuggling operations by staging the Boston Tea Party.
• Virginia tobacco farmers, including Founding Fathers, owed between 2 and 3 million pounds to British creditors, providing a financial motive for the revolution.
• Economist Robert Thomas found that the economic cost of trade restrictions on the colonies was offset by benefits like guaranteed markets and British military protection.
• According to Thomas, the net burden of British trade policies on the colonies was about 26 cents per person per year, or $50 in today's money.
• George Washington's quote reveals that the slavery practiced by colonists belied their cries of oppression.
• Tom Paine questioned the colonists' consistency in complaining about enslavement while holding hundreds of thousands in slavery.
• The cost of the American Revolution was trivial, suggesting the revolution may have been fought of the cost of dinner and a movie rather than more lofty principles.
• Gladwell references Canada's peaceful transition to independence as a contrast to the American Revolution.