Frederick Douglass Community Reading at Stagville

Commemorate Independence Day with a community reading of Frederick Douglass' powerful Fourth of July address, "What to the Slave is the Fourth of July." This is a participatory event, open to people of all ages! Copies of the speech will be provided to all attendees, and you will read it out loud together in front of the slave dwellings at Horton Grove.

Douglass' words still resonate today, inviting us to reflect on the history of slavery and the promises of freedom. Douglass delivered this powerful abolitionist speech on July 5, 1852 at an Independence Day celebration:

"There is not a man man beneath the canopy of heaven, that does not know that slavery is wrong for him."

Bring a chair or blanket to sit on the grounds. This free event will last about 1 hour, with the option to tour the original slave dwellings at Horton Grove available afterwards.