FREE READING OF FREDERICK DOUGLASS’ SPEECH BRINGS ACCLAIMED ACTOR AND SCHOLARS TO BRISTOL
Linden Place Mansion – Bristol, Rhode Island
BRISTOL, RI – On Sunday, July 7, Linden Place in Bristol, RI invites the community to attend Frederick Douglass: A 21st-Century Reflection on “What to The Slave Is The Fourth of July.”
The program, moderated by Mattie Edwards-Kemp, will include a reading of Douglass’ iconic 1852 speech by actor Joe Wilson Jr., followed by a brief lecture by scholar Donna Denizé, and an opportunity for attendees to ask questions.
Frederick Douglass, an escaped slave turned statesman, was about 34 years old when he delivered this speech to more than 500 members of the Rochester Ladies’ Anti-Slavery Society in 1852, nine years before the start of the Civil War. The speech questioned the notion of freedom by pointing out the disparity between White Americans and the enslaved Africans and African Americans who were forced to serve them. The message about America struggling to live up to the lofty goals it set for itself at its founding continues to be relevant today.
The program will begin at 2:00 pm in the gardens. In the case of rain, the program will be moved to the ballroom. This event is free for all to attend. A voluntary donation at the door is appreciated and helps to support Linden Place programs.
Joe Wilson Jr., a seasoned theater director with 30 years of experience in acting, writing, and directing at Trinity Repertory Company, now serves as the Director of the Department of Art, Culture, and Tourism in Providence, appointed by Mayor Brett Smiley. A community advocate and former law student, Wilson prioritizes building trust and collaboration, emphasizing the importance of people in realizing this vision for the city.
Donna Denizé, an American Poet and acclaimed educator at St. Albans School in Washington, DC, serves as Chairwoman of the English Department. Her work has been featured in numerous publications, including anthologies and Corporation for Public Broadcasting media. A Cape Cod native and American of Haitian descent, Denizé holds degrees from Stonehill College and Howard University, and has received grants from prestigious institutions such as the Bread Loaf School of English and the Folger Shakespeare Library. Since 1978 she has been a prominent figure in the Washington, DC area, leaving a lasting impact on literature and education.
Mattie Edwards-Kemp
Mattie Edwards-Kemp is the Director of Diversity, Equity and Justice at Pennfield School in Portsmouth, RI. She earned undergraduate degrees from the University of Tennessee and Salve Regina University and received a M.Ed in educational leadership from Rhode Island College. She has served as an adjunct professor at Salve Regina University and Roger Williams University. She served on the Board of Trustees for the Martin Luther King Community Center for ten years and is currently Vice President of the Bristol Middle Passage Port Marker Project.