**This virtual program will premier at Noon and be accessible online here (CLICK Douglass Image) or go to our museum’s facebook/IG page for the remainder of the week.**

On July 5, 1852 in Rochester, New York Frederick Douglass memorably declared, “This Fourth of July is yours, not mine. You may rejoice, I must mourn.” Delivered two years after the Fugitive Slave Act (1850) and more than a decade before the end of slavery, Douglass’ powerful speech reframed the meaning of patriotism in the face of the brutal institution of slavery. More than 150 years after his profound words, the Reginald F. Lewis Museum commemorates this July 4th by revisiting Douglass’ speech. We’ve gathered the voices of contemporary African Americans living and working in Maryland to share excerpts of Douglass’ speech, “What To the Slave is the Fourth of July?”  Spoken word artists, actors, educators, and visual artists re-interpret Douglass’ speech within the museum’s permanent exhibition.  

The pre-recorded digital presentation will air at Noon online and on the museum’s facebook page. This recording will be available for continual viewing following the initial airing during the week of the Fourth of July holiday (July 4, 2022 – July 10, 2022).

Click Here to view the speech  of  “What To the Slave Is the Fourth of July?”

RSVP to let us know you are coming.

Reflection Questions  –  Reflect on this digital reading of “What to Slave Is the Fourth of July?” by answering some of the following questions.

• Which portions of Douglass’ speech resonate with you? Why?
• Why is Frederick Douglass’ speech so important?
• To what extent were the ideals of the Declaration of Independence real for African Americans before the Civil War?
• To what extent were Fourth of July celebrations a reflection of American freedom or American hypocrisy before the Civil War?

Social Media Activity – Oratory Challenge

• Take on this oratory challenge of  recording yourself, family or friends reciting  Douglass’ speech of “What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?”  Select a passage of Douglass’s speech that resonates with you.  Tag us on social media (Twitter, Insta, FB).
  • Link to “What To the Slave Is the Fourth of July?”

Readers:

• Arthur Brown: Arthur is the Office Administrator at the Reginald F. Lewis Museum.  Arthur also assists the curatorial team for the DICE department.
• Jaylen Palmer: Jaylen is a theater student from Baltimore School of the Arts. An avid actor, he performed in Chesapeake Shakespeare Company’s A Christmas Carol in Dec 2021.
• Joseph Aly-Forman: Joseph is a rising senior at Dunbar High School in Baltimore, Maryland. He is a member of The Citywide Youth Poetry Team for DewMore Baltimore.
• Rashieda Witter: Rashieda is the Oral History Project Manager at the Reginald F. Lewis Museum. Rashieda is  also a curator, writer, and photographer currently based in Baltimore, Maryland.
• Rodney Dotson: Rodney has personified Frederick Douglass in his younger days  for a Summer Camp Series for  Living Classrooms.
• Ron Goines:  Ron is  the Development Director for the Reginald F. Lewis Museum.  Ron is a seasoned fundraising professional with more than ten years of development experience.