Some of you remember that on July 3 of last year, more than 150 of us participated in an in-person reading of Frederick Douglass’ emotionally powerful 1852 speech, “The Meaning of the Fourth of July for the Negro.” Valley Insight led the local effort in organizing this event, held at Colburn Park in Lebanon last year. It was a beautiful day; one we hope to recreate in future years. As you might expect, though, the 2020 reading will not be an in-person gathering: instead, we have two wonderful alternatives to share with you.
On July 3 at 5:30 p.m., participants will take turns reading paragraphs from Douglass’ speech in the Valley Insight virtual Dharma Hall. The plan is simple and informal; we’ll assign a paragraph as each person joins. Or, you can choose to just listen in and not read. If you plan to come to the reading, please let us know with a response to Doreen at doreen.schweizer@icloud.com
We thank the volunteers and staff of The Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire, sponsors and organizers of the statewide readings in past years and again this year. They have been working hard with New Hampshire organizations and leaders and with New Hampshire PBS to keep this important commemoration of a piece of US history alive! This new format will bring Douglass’s message to an even larger number of people across our state.
