BELLOWS FALLS, Vt. — Join other community members in a public participatory reading of Frederick Douglass’s fiery Independence Day speech on Monday, Feb. 11 at 6 p.m. at the Rockingham Library. Douglass, having been born into slavery, never knew his actual birth date. He chose a February date to celebrate his birthday, which is why this event, a reading of his most famous speech, is being held in February.
In 1852, Frederick Douglass, one of our nation’s greatest orators and abolitionists, was asked to speak at an event commemorating the signing of the Declaration of Independence. In his provocative speech, Douglass said, “This Fourth of July is yours, not mine. You may rejoice, I must mourn.” And he asked, “Do you mean, citizens, to mock me, by asking me to speak to-day?” Douglass’s speech remains emotionally powerful and thought-provoking more than a century and a half after he gave it. This program is sponsored by the Vermont Humanities Council.
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