How does this rhetorical question contribute to the passage’s central idea? It encourages African Americans to discuss the princ
iples set forth in the Declaration of Independence. It reinforces the idea that the rights given to others are not extended to African Americans. It reveals that Douglass has an in-depth knowledge of the Declaration of Independence. It gives the rest of the speech importance by referring to a famous historical document.
Answer: It reinforces the idea that the rights given to others are not extended to African Americans.
Explanation:
In the speech he gave on July 5, 1852 -<em>"What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?", </em>Frederick Douglass argues that African Americans are denied the rights they were promised by the Declaration of Independence. In doing so, he asks a series of rhetorical questions. When he describes the injustice brought by slavery, he asks if that is "a question for Republicans." The idea that Douglass wants to convey is that the rights that all the people should have are applied only to white Americans.
