What to the slave is the 4th of July? asked Frederick Douglass


Mark Winn as Frederick Douglass in Sons & Daughters of Thunder.

Discussing the abolition of slavery in 1834 was considered radical, even in the North. Organized by firebrand abolitionist Theodore Weld, the nation's first public anti-slavery debates at Lane Seminary in Cincinnati, Ohio led to near riot conditions in the city. The shocking oratory sparked intense controversy and awakened a young Harriet Beecher (Stowe) to the horrors of slavery. Harriet was captivated by Weld's charismatic leadership, at a time when Calvin Stowe was trying to win her heart. Inspired by Weld and the debates, Harriet later penned "Uncle Tom's Cabin" and turned the tide of public opinion against slavery.

Visit https://www.fourthwallfilms.com/sons-daughters-of-thunder to stream or purchase the Emmy-nominated and award-winning Sons & Daughters of Thunder.

We include a portion of Frederick Douglass' 4th of July Speech in 1852, as performed by Mark Winn in Sons & Daughters of Thunder below.

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