Orators will present an abridged version of the speech and, including additional remarks, the reading will run about 45 minutes. There will be a Q&A with informal group discussion to follow. A paper version of the speech, along with a list of community conversation starters, will be available to guests immediately following the reading. The Marion Art Center will also provide coffee and tea at the event.

Program scholar Dr. Moise St Louis, Assistant Dean of Students/Director of the Frederick Douglass Unity House and Interim Associate Vice Chancellor at UMass Dartmouth, will give remarks and help lead discussion at the event. The FDUH is “an intercultural center that empowers and transforms the student experience, through activities and initiatives designed to challenge, foster and enrich the cultural life of the UMassD community. Unity House places a particular emphasis on providing a supportive environment for the academic, cultural, recreational, and social pursuits of UMassD’s ALANA students—African/Black, Latin@/Hispanic, Asian/Pacific Islander, and Native American/Indigenous—and social justice allies.” Dr. St Louis holds a Ph.D. in Comparative Politics/International Relations as well as the following degrees: B.A. in Social Thought and Political Economy, B.A. in Afro-American Studies, a B.A. in Political Science, and M.A. in Comparative Politics.

Reading Frederick Douglass Together is made possible by a grant from the Mass Cultural Council and is presented by the MAC in partnership with Tri-Town Against Racism, a local grassroots organization whose mission is “to intentionally create an anti-racist environment for our citizens. In doing so, we seek to target systemic, institutional, and structural racism within the towns of Marion, Mattapoisett and Rochester, MA.” This event is free and open to the public. Additional resources can be found on the Mass Humanities website.

Please contact the MAC with questions by emailing info@marionartcenter.org or by calling 508-748-1266.