As the Fourth of July approached in summer of 1852, former slave Frederick Douglass gave his historic speech, asking "What to the American slave is your Fourth of July?" to an audience in Rochester, New York.
His words and ideas about liberty still resonate today.
On July 29, Upper Valley residents joined in a statewide reading of his speech, taking turns reciting paragraphs. Held at Coburn Park in Lebanon, N.H., the event was hosted by Valley Insight Meditation Society in partnership with the Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire, Lebanon Recreation, Arts, and Parks Department, and the First Congregational Church of Lebanon.
Video produced by Rick Russell for JAM
