Reading Frederick Douglass : “The Meaning of the Fourth of July for the Negro” at Essex Free Library, Wednesday, July 5th, 6:30 – Deborah Rawson Memorial Library joins Essex Free Library and Brownell Library to present a communal reading of Frederick Douglass’s fiery 1852 speech, “The Meaning of the Fourth of July to the Negro.” On July 5, 1852, Douglass, a former slave and leading abolitionist, begged the “race question” at an event in Rochester, NY, commemorating the signing of the Declaration of Independence. “Fellow-citizens,” he began, “why am I called upon to speak here to-day? What have I, or those I represent, to do with your national independence? Do you mean, citizens, to mock me, by asking me to speak to-day? What, to the American slave, is your 4th of July?” By our hosting such events during the celebration of this nation’s independence – its freedom from Great Britain and its tyranny – we invite thought and discussion about race and citizenship now, more than a century and a half later. The shared reading will be followed by discussion and light refreshments. Members of the community are invited to take part in the communal reading. Please consider partaking – we hope to have many participants, both young and old and hope that many will join us, as readers or as listeners. The text of this speech, as well as accompanying materials, is available online at the Vermont Humanities Council website, www.vermonthumanities.org. The three presenting libraries join the Vermont Humanities Council in this statewide effort.