Published by Mike LaBella in the The Eagle Tribune on June 6.
HAVERHILL — Whittier’s Birthplace, in partnership with the Buttonwoods Museum, will present “Reading Frederick Douglass Together” on Monday, June 19 (Juneteenth), at 6 p.m. The event will feature a public reading of Douglass’ speech, “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?”
Each year, Mass Humanities organizes and funds free public events where communities gather together to read and talk about Douglass’ influential address.
After escaping slavery in 1838, the famous abolitionist lived for many years in Massachusetts. The most celebrated orator of his day, Douglass’ denunciations of slavery and forceful examination of the Constitution challenge us to think about the stories we tell and don’t tell, the ideas that they teach or don’t teach, and the gaps between our actions and aspirations. To quote Douglass: “We have to do with the past only as we can make it useful to the future.”
Parking is available on a designated field. Please wear footwear suitable for walking on grass and dirt. In the event of heavy rain, this event will be virtual.
Members of the community who are interested in reading a section of the address are asked to email info@buttonwoods.org or kaleigh@whittierbirthplace.org.
Copies of the address will be available to all attendees, in English and in Spanish.
