Radio Free never takes money from corporate interests, which ensures our publications are in the interest of people, not profits. Radio Free provides free and open-source tools and resources for anyone to use to help better inform their communities. Learn more and get involved at radiofree.org
Douglas earljones

We begin our July Fourth special broadcast with 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, Douglass gave one of his most famous speeches, “What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?” He was addressing the Rochester Ladies’ Anti-Slavery Society. James Earl Jones reads the historic address during a performance of Voices of a People’s History of the United States, which was co-edited by Howard Zinn. The late great historian introduces the address.


This content originally appeared on Democracy Now! and was authored by Democracy Now!.

Citations

[1] “What to the Slave Is the 4th of July?”: James Earl Jones Reads Frederick Douglass’s Historic Speech | Democracy Now! ➤ http://www.democracynow.org/2024/7/4/what_to_the_slave_is_the