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A Multilingual Reading of Frederick Douglass’ What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?

Honoring the Past, Inspiring the Present

Tuesday, July 1, 2025, 4 p.m.
ºÚ°µ±¬ÁÏÍø Community College – New Bedford Campus
800 Purchase Street, New Bedford, MA 

Join us for a powerful multilingual reading of Frederick Douglass’ iconic speech, What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?, brought to life in Wampanoag, K’iche’, Portuguese, and English. This free public event reflects the cultural richness of New Bedford today while calling us to consider the speech’s enduring message of justice, equity, and freedom.

Douglass & New Bedford: A Legacy of Courage

Frederick Douglass arrived in New Bedford in 1838 as a newly escaped freedom seeker. He found safety, employment, and dignity in this abolitionist stronghold, and it was here that he first began speaking publicly about the horrors of slavery. New Bedford was the birthplace of his voice as a national leader—and a beacon of hope for those pursuing liberty. 

Register to Attend

This event is free, but registration is encouraged.

This program is funded by Mass Humanities, which receives support from the Massachusetts Cultural Council and is an affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Come honor Douglass’ legacy – and reflect on how his words still shape the work of justice in our communities today.