Frederick Douglass: The Meaning of July 4th for the Negro

William G. McGowan Theater
Washington, DC

In a July 5, 1852, speech to a group of abolitionists, Frederick Douglass reminded them that for slaves and former slaves, the Declaration of Independence represented the unfulfilled promise of liberty for all. Phil Darius Wallace will give a dramatic reading of excerpts from the speech, followed by a discussion with Nathan Johnson, Supervisory Park Ranger at the Frederick Douglass National Historic Site, and Robert S. Levine, author of The Lives of Frederick Douglass. A book signing will follow the program.

See the complete schedule of all of our July 4 events on our July 4 Celebration page.