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Nashua Community Reading: “What to the Slave is your Fourth of July?”

July 1, 2022 @ 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm

Free

On July 5, 1852, Frederick Douglass, an abolitionist and heroic orator for liberty, delivered one of his most famous speeches in which he asked, “What to the slave is your Fourth of July?” In addressing an Independence Day observance in Rochester, New York, his speech was a blistering indictment of an American idealism that ignored and accepted the inhuman treatment of enslaved African Americans as part of the country’s identity and economy. Ironically, even though Douglass’ words spoke directly to this moment in history, they still ring with an unsettling power today.

For the past several years, on July 3rd, the Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire (BHTNH) has collaborated with community leaders around the Granite State to bring people together to read Douglass’ historic protest speech and to reflect on its meaning.

While reading Frederick Douglass’ work is a powerful experience for many, it is only one piece of the long-overdue conversations that our communities need to have. We hope that these readings will be a starting point for these difficult dialogues and that they will provide an opportunity for us to engage in deeper conversations that will lead to actions to help build more inclusive and just communities today.

Details

Date:
July 1, 2022
Time:
12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
Cost:
Free
Event Category:
Tags:
Free
Website:
https://blackheritagetrailnh.org/frederick-douglass-statewide-readings/

Organizer

Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire
Phone:
603.570.8469
Email:
info@blackheritagetrailnh.org
View Organizer Website

Venue

Nashua Public Library
2 Court St
Nashua, NH 03060 United States
+ Google Map
Phone:
(603) 589 - 4600
View Venue Website