Each year on the Fourth of July, the Edgartown Federated Church hosts a reading of Frederick Douglass’s speech, The Meaning of the Fourth of July for the Negro. Various members of the church and the community take part in the event, reading from the church pulpit, which was designated a part of the African American Heritage Trail in 2018. Mr. Douglass himself once spoke at the church.

This year’s reading will be virtual and is available to stream at the Federated Church’s website or the Edgartown Library website, which is a co-sponsor of the event.

Visit federatedchurchmv.org or edgartownlibrary.org.