A group of 12 Vineyarders — politicians, writers, actors, ministers and boat captains — gathered in the pews of Edgartown’s Federated Church on Tuesday afternoon. The 12 orators were to deliver the speech The Meaning of the Fourth of July for the Negro by Frederick Douglass to a full house. The date was July 2, 2019, but many were reminded of November 1857, when Douglass himself spoke at the Federated Church.
Event organizer Mary Jane Carpenter noted the event’s 19th century roots.
“In November of 1857, the year of the Dred Scott decision, there was no pre-advertisement since it was quite dangerous,” she said. “Douglass spoke at the Federated Church and the Edgartown town hall and we know because the Gazette reported it.”
The name Frederick Douglass stands out when walking down Summer street, in a bronze plaque dedicated last year as part of the African-American Heritage Trail. President of the Friends of Edgartown Library, Ellie Bates, admired the commemoration.
“Last year the Federated Church received the plaque at this same July 2nd event,” she said. “It was a beautiful moment and such an amazing bit of history.”
For 12 years running, the iconic speech has been read on July 2 at the Federated Church. Ms. Carpenter said she pays special attention when choosing the lineup, most of whom return each year to read the same part of the speech.
“All of our readers represent a different aspect of Douglass and his life. Many don’t know this, but Douglass was a boatman and a ferry captain, so we have seafarers here. He was also the first black register of deeds in D.C. and so every year we have Paolo here.”
Paolo DeOliveira, the register of deeds for Dukes County, has participated every year since the event’s inception. T. George Davis, clerk of courts, Jane Seagrave publisher of the Vineyard Gazette, ministers Sharon Eckhardt and Cathlin Baker, and writer and actor Tom Dunlop were just a few of the distinguished readers.
Elizabeth St. John Villard, great-great-great granddaughter of abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison, also read. Audience member Tamara Gordon, a U.S. history teacher from Atlanta, Ga. was struck by the family resemblance.
“I Googled a picture of William Lloyd Garrison to show my kids. My son said, wow, she looks just like him.”
A first timer to the Island, Ms. Gordon said the event left a mark. “Hearing the speech out loud like this, with all these people, made me think, okay, everyone needs to hear this. I’ve got to assign this as summer reading.”
It was Steve and Laura Peach’s first time at the event, although the couple has summered on the Vineyard for much of their lives.
“We always miss it, but this year I put it on the calendar,” Laura Peach said. “We got here an hour early to get a seat.”
Reader Joe Carter, former Oak Bluffs chief of police, said he was a bit nervous performing in front of such a large crowd, although he didn’t show it.
“Every year Mary Jane has to twist my arm, right here in front of the cross. I’m a deacon here at the church, so I say yes.”
The one-and-a-half hour reading brought the crowd to their feet. Mr. Carter took a moment to recover from the standing ovation.
“It’s emotional,” he said. “I tried to put my whole soul, heart and mind in to channeling Douglass.”
The living history of the afternoon did not escape Mr. Carter.
“For me to remind people, through Douglass’s spirit, that we need to be brothers and sisters in peace moving forward, that we hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal, that our constitution isn’t fully realized until we practice that equality. That’s why we’re here today.”
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