Join the Somerville Museum, the Somerville Arts Council, and the Departmtent of Racial and Social Justice at Premiere on Broadway for "Reading Frederick Douglass Together", an annual community reading of Frederick Douglass' famous address, "What to the Slave is the Fourth of July" led by Christian Walkes. Followed by discussion and Black Out poetry.

Option to sign up in advance to be a reader when you reserve your ticket .

Refreshments served.

Then head across to Trum Field to view "Switchboard", an interactive art piece by Sophie Tachibana Miller featuring the Declaration of Independence and Douglass' speech, while waiting for Independence Day fireworks!

Reserve your spot and sign up to read on Eventbrite:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1991591080534?aff=oddtdtcreator

For ADA accommodations, contact 311 at 617-666-3311. The City of Somerville can provide you with an interpreter or a script in your language for free. To request an interpreter or script, please contact us at languageaccess@somervillema.gov or call 311 (617-666-3311) at least 7 days in advance of this event.

Boston native Christian Walkes is Director of Education & Interpretation at the Museum of African History. He is also a Ph.D. Student in Education at Harvard University where he studies the history of African American education. Prior to matriculating into his doctoral program, Christian earned an M.A. in Educational Studies from Tufts University and a B.A. in English and Secondary Education from the University of Massachusetts, Boston. In addition to his role as a student and museum educator, he serves as an adjunct professor in the College of Education and Human Development at UMass/Boston, and is a member of the Boston Writing Project’s advisory board. In addition, holds memberships to the following professional associations: the American Educational Research Association, the Association for the Study of African American Life and history, and the American Educational Studies Association.

Sophie Tachibana Miller is a multidisciplinary artist and educator based in the Boston area dedicated to arts accessibility and supporting art as a public good. Prioritizing the creative reuse of landfill destined materials through sculpture, social practice, and painting, she creates opportunities for communities to engage in sharing sidelined histories. Her piece, “Switchboard” features the Ruth Veletta Jones, grand niece of Frederick Douglass, first black female graduate of Somerville High School, one of the first women to vote in Cambridge and one of the areas first phone operators. Jones is depicted at a switchboard with cords connecting contrasting quotes from the Declaration of Independence and “What to the Slave is the 4th of July” and allows people to add their own reflections in response to prompts.