Swampscott and Nahant residents will gather on the Swampscott Town Hall Lawn at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, July 2, to read and discuss Frederick Douglass’ famous 1852 speech, “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?” 

Reading Frederick Douglass Together is a Mass Humanities Grant that offers up to $2,000 to support public readings and discussions throughout the state on Frederick Douglass’ famous Fourth of July address. This year, Swampscott Unites Respects Embraces (S.U.R.E.) Diversity, the town of Swampscott, Swampscott Recreation, the Swampscott Historical Commission, the Nahant Historical Society and the Swampscott Public Library have received the grant and will host an event with free ice cream, food trucks and a community reading of Douglass’ speech. The event will take place in over 60 cities across Massachusetts.

 “We’re asking people not just to come but to participate,” said Margaret Somer, co-founder of S.U.R.E. Diversity. “Communities don’t just happen, you have to work at it.” 

Douglass was an abolitionist, orator, writer and statesman. After escaping slavery in 1838, Douglass became a well-known national abolitionist leader in Massachusetts and New York, being a member of the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society. In his Fourth of July Speech, Douglass commented on the hypocrisy of the American celebration of freedom while slavery still existed, and criticized the gap between American values of liberty and Black oppression. 

Volunteers will be encouraged to take turns at the microphone and read passages of Douglass’ speech. There is no restriction on reading level or knowledge on the topic required.

Swampscott Historical Commission Chair Nancy Schultz; Tom Dalton, author of “Frederick Douglass: The Lynn Years;” and poet Enzo Silon Surin will read. 

The event is meant to allow people to connect Douglass, their community and with American values, according to Somer.

“We like to focus on all the ways we’re alike and all the ways we’re different,” said Somer.

Anyone interested in participating as a reader can sign up at the S.U.R.E. Diversity website at surediversity.org or at Reading Frederick Douglass.