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Reading Frederick Douglass with Local Teens

  • Morse Institute Library 14 East Central Street Natick, MA 01760 (map)

Update: We are happy to share the news that Wellesley College Professor of History Brenna Greer will talk with us about Douglass’s speech before we begin the read. Thank you, Professor Greer!

The Natick Historical Society invites local teens, especially those who are passionate about antiracism, human rights, and the Black Lives Matter movement, to participate in a Community Read of Frederick Douglass's 1852 speech, “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?”

The Read will take place on Thursday, July 2 at 6:00pm on the front steps of the Morse Institute Library in Natick. Each teen will have the opportunity to read 1-3 paragraphs from the speech, which is about thirty minutes in total. The Community Read will be filmed by the local cable station, Natick Pegasus. **All readers will wear masks and practice social distancing. While reading, readers will be placed at a safe distance from other people so masks can be temporarily removed.**

If you are a teen who wants to read, then we want to hear from you! Please send an email to reserve your spot in advance: director@natickhistoricalsociety.org.

**This event is free and open to the public. Please wear a mask, practice social distancing, and bring your own chair or blanket. Bathrooms at the Morse Institute Library are NOT open. **

This event is inspired by the Mass Humanities Reading Frederick Douglass program.