Those were the final words of a fiery ten-page lecture spoken by Frederick Douglass on July 5th, 1852 in Rochester, New York.  These forty eight words were a quote from Douglass' friend and fellow abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison.  Douglass organized the speech to voice his umbrage at being asked to commemorate the signing of the Declaration Of Independence. Upon concluding his speech Douglass asked the participants in his lecture to recite them aloud with him.  The title of the speech was “ The Meaning Of The Fourth Of July For The Negro”. 

Gathering in West Chester County for the Frederick Douglass speech recittal

   With the United States of America only seventy six years into its birth, Douglass pointed to the growing pains of a nation built on the concept of Freedom.  Douglass' speech challenged a then President Millard Fillmore and a fledgling nation to defend and define the American concept of Freedom and Justice.  It was a direct response to the Fugitive Slave Act passed in 1850.  The act legally prevented any American from providing food or shelter to a runaway slave.  It enforced the property rights of slave owners to reclaim African Americans in bondage. 

   Those who violated this law were subjected to imprisonment and steep fines.  Its passage unraveled the successes of escapees who had reached Northern free states and havens such as Philadelphia and the surrounding counties of Lancaster, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery.  It also pushed fugitive Blacks north to Canada.  In spite of the Fugitive Slave Act and its harsh penalties, many Pennsylvania abolitionists continued to serve as conductors and safe harbors for the Underground Railroad. 

   As the Underground Railroad cut directly through Chester County, Pennsylvania with multiple stations in Kennett Square it was a fitting tribute that the Chester County Historical Society take part in the inaugural nationwide recital and reenactment of this historic event.  Held on the steps of the Chester County Historical Society Museum and Library the Pennsylvania recitation was recreated by ten prominent Chester County residents and Pennsylvanians.  Each represented a different facet of Chester County History and it's significance in African American History and Heritage.

Carmen Boyd of the Chester County Black Historical Society

   Among the narrators were Carmen Boyd of the Chester County Black Historical Society, West Chester Mayor Carolyn Comitta, Dr. Karin E. Gedge Professor of History, West Chester University, Lenwood Sloan, Director of Cultural and Heritage Tourism Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Dr. Jim Trotman, Director Frederick Douglass Institute West Chester University and Kimberly A. Hall the President of the Chester County Historical Society. 

   Of particular local pride is the fact that Douglass delivered two additional speeches in what is now the Horticultural Hall of the Museum.  On July 14th 1863 he exhorted the Black Freedmen of Chester County to enlist in the Union Army and fight to liberate those still enslaved in the South.  Later in 1875 he addressed the Chester County Teacher's institute which is today known as West Chester University.

   In addition, the Chester County Historical Society's Photo Archives maintain original newspaper coverage of these speeches.  As well as there is a display which houses the oldest surviving “photograph” of Frederick Douglass. The rare daguerreotype shows Douglass in his youth and was originally a personal gift to Susan B. Anthony.  It was prominently located on the mantle piece of Anthony's home in Rochester, New York  and was passed down through her family.  It first passed to Miss Lucy Anthony, Susan B. Anthony's niece. Miss Lucy Anthony wishing it preserved for posterity and  provided it to local (Chester County) historian Albert Cook Meyers who then placed it in the Chester County Historical Society Archives.

   It and other displays chronicling Douglas, local abolitionists,the Underground Railroad and Chester County's place in the Civil War are open to the public as members of the society or visitors to the Museum.  Copies of the speech in its entirety maybe obtained at the CCHS Museum.  The reenactment was organized in conjunction with MassHumanities which is a state based affiliate for the National Endowment For The Humanities and a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. 

225 North High Street

West Chester, PA 19380
http://www.ChesterCoHistorical.org