Reading Frederick Douglass Together

As a community we came together to read and talk about Frederick Douglass’ influential address, “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?”

This was a free event made possible by a grant from Mass Humanities, which provided funding through the Massachusetts Cultural Council.

From Mass Humanities: "Douglass escaped from slavery in 1838 and lived for many years in Massachusetts. He delivered the Fourth of July speech on July 5, 1852, in Rochester, New York, to the Rochester Ladies’ Anti-Slavery Society. The most celebrated orator of his day, Douglass’ powerful language, resolute denunciations of slavery, and forceful examination of the Constitution challenge us to think about the histories we tell, the values they teach, and if our actions match our aspirations."
"Mass Humanities has supported readings in town squares, community centers, churches, museums, libraries, and parks. We believe Douglass’ words belong in public spaces. At each event, people take turns reading parts of the speech until it is completed. Each community considers the meaning of the speech in the past and its resonances in the present." Learn more: https://youtu.be/WuuU1okXRnE