1.6K views · 15 reactions | Former slave and abolitionist movement leader, Frederick Douglass delivered one of his most famous speeches, “What to the Slave is Your Fourth of July?” Join us for READING FREDERICK DOUGLASS, July 4th at 7pm on #NHPBS #FrederickDouglass #ReadingFrederickDouglass #July4th #PortmouthNH #History #Blackhistory Portsmouth Black Heritage Trail New Hampshire Humanities New Hampshire Historical Society | New Hampshire PBS | Facebook

Today we hear the words of Frederick Douglass. Born into slavery around 1818, Douglass became a key leader of the abolitionist movement. On July 5, 1852, in Rochester, New York, he gave one of his most famous speeches, “The Meaning of July Fourth for the Negro.” He was addressing the Rochester Ladies Antislavery Society. This is actor James Earl Jones reading the speech during a performance of historian Howard Zinn’s acclaimed book, “Voices of a People’s History of the United States.” He was int