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
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.
Two Opportunities to Be Involved
In 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and physical distancing requirements,
BHTNH has modified delivery of this community event by organizing two opportunities for people to participate:
- Live in-person community readings at one of the small group gatherings in five towns across the state on Friday, July 3.
- Watching on TV through our partnership with New Hampshire PBS (NHPBS), which will present 55 leaders from 26 towns “Reading Frederick Douglass.” The taped production will be aired on NHPBS Saturday and Sunday, July 4 + 5.
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.
PLEASE NOTE: BHTNH encourages participants to practice social distancing and to wear masks at these outdoor events.
Please call us at 603-570-8469 for more information.
JULY 3, 2020
LIVE/IN PERSON COMMUNITY READINGS & LOCATIONS
- CLAREMONT | Moody Park, at the pavilion at the top of the hill | 152 Maple Street | 6:00 PM
- Dover
- Manchester
- NASHUA | Nashua Public Library, on the lawn | 12:00 Noon (please bring your own chair)
- Portsmouth
Views Abridged Version Here (this one used for community read)
View Full Speech Here (English)
View Full Speech Here (Spanish)
ON NHPBS, NEW HAMPSHIRE PUBLIC BROADCAST STATION
Reading Frederick Douglass
Saturday, July 4, 7:00 pm
Saturday, July 4, 10:00 pm
Sunday, July 5, 8:30 pm
Episode Duration: 56 minutes and 46 seconds
Click here for all broadcast times for this program
PARTICIPATING TO
WNS & READERS
BARRINGTON
Jackie Cilley
Cassandra Levesque
Julien Olivier
Matt Towne
BEDFORD
James McKim
CAMPTON
Rev. Linda Barnes
CONCORD
Steven L. Kidder
CORNISH
Shideko Terai
DOVER
Miraqle LaPierre
Sen. David Watters
David Greene
Dr. Tricia Peone
Nancy Dickinson
Rogers Johnson
Terry Robinson
Jim Verschueren
Carlo Nittoli
EXETER
Stephan Poulin
Lisa Bunker
Rev. Bob Thompson
FARMINGTON
Stan Freeda
HOOKSETT
Tanisha Johnson
Kayla Lewis
Jordan Thompson
HOPKINTON
Ruth Chevion
Sara Larson
NH Congresswoman Annie McLane Kuster
KEENE
Rev. Derek Scalia
Rev. Elsa Worth
LEBANON
Subhadra Srinivasan
Bise (Bees) Wood Saint Eugene
MANCHESTER
Martha Lyman
Anthony Poore
MEREDITH
Nancy Chaddock
MILFORD
JerriAnne Boggis
NASHUA
Linda & James Gathright
Irving Scales, Jr
NEWFIELDS
NH Gov. Christopher T. Sununu
PLYMOUTH
Suzanne Gaulocha
PORTSMOUTH
Rev. Chris Dunaway
Kevin Wade Mitchell
ROCHESTER
Rev. Eliza Tweedy
Palana Belkin
ROLLINSFORD
Jim Berry
Angela Matthews
Julia Roberts
SANBORNTON
Mary Nolin
SOMERSWORTH
Pius Murray
Crystal Paradis
Emmett Soldati
WALPOLE
Dr. Cherie Holmes
WARNER
Gabe Nelson
Laura Russell
Brick Moltz
SOUTH BERWICK, ME
Julie Serrano
BELLOWS FALLS, VT
Dottie Morris
The mission of the
Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire is to promote awareness and appreciation of African American history and life in order to build more inclusive communities today.
With recent events, this mission is more important now than ever.
It is in this spirit we ask you to watch and listen to this virtual reading.
