On July 5, 1852, Frederick Douglass spoke to the Ladies’ Anti-Slavery Society in Rochester, New York and delivered what has become his iconic speech, “What to a Slave is the Fourth of July?” Listen to faculty, students, and staff read notable passages from the speech and hear thoughts from University experts on the famous abolitionist’s lasting legacy.

Music: “Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child” performed by Joe Hagen ’19