***UPDATE FOR THOSE WHO ATTENDED ON JUNE 12***

If you attended “Reading Frederick Douglass Together” on 6/12, you may have been exposed to Covid-19. An audience members let us know that they became symptomatic after the event and tested positive on Monday. We thank that person for letting us know, and encourage all who were present to get a Covid test if you experience any symptoms. Please email us at staff@salemathenaeum.net if you have additional questions.

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On June 12, 2022, the Salem Athenaeum will host a public reading of Frederick Douglass’s speech, “What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July.”

Douglass first gave this speech, perhaps his most famous, in Rochester, New York on July 5, 1852. As an acclaimed abolitionist orator and agent for The Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society, Douglass gave many speeches across the North and Midwest United States, including in Salem.

The reading will be followed by an ice cream reception where we encourage the audience and readers to continue the conversation.

This event will be held at the Tabernacle Congregational Church at 50 Washington St. in Salem at 3:00 pm and is free to the public.  If attendees would like to contribute to the event, donations in the form of food, grocery gift cards, or money will be gratefully accepted on behalf of The Salem Pantry. This program is made possible by a grant from Mass Humanities, which provided funding through the Massachusetts Cultural Council.

This event is free to the public.

Text of the speech that will be read can be found here:

https://salemathenaeum.net/reading-frederick-douglass-together-text/