While people might be counting down to the fireworks starting at 9 p.m. on July 4, Carrboro’s Independence Day celebrations start closer to 9 in the morning. A kick-off event for the day will start at Weaver Street Market, featuring live music and decoration booths to help residents prepare for a patriotic costume contest.

Following that, Carrboro Mayor Lydia Lavelle said, is the migration toward the big events planned at the intersection of Main Street and Laurel Avenue.

“Everyone gathers for the People’s Parade and marches down Weaver Street to the Town Commons,” Lavelle said. “From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., we’ll have lots of good music, activities, food and really good community spirit.”

Many of these activities are typically done on Fourth of July across the country. People can square off in a pie-eating contest, a watermelon seed-spitting competition and a water balloon toss. There will be bingo games for seniors and baby crawl races for toddlers.

But Carrboro has a tradition different from most other American towns. For the sixth year, the town will hold a community reading of abolitionist Frederick Douglass’ speech ‘What to the Slave is the Fourth of July.’ Originally delivered on July 5, 1852, the essay challenges white America to recognize the difference of freedoms and rights between white people and black slaves. Carrboro began reading the speech to address that chapter of our country’s history, recognizing that Independence Day for the United States has not always meant independence for everyone living here.

In a conversation with WCHL’s Aaron Keck, Lavelle said the reading is becoming one of the town’s most popular Fourth of July events.

“It’s always very well-attended,” she said. “It doesn’t matter how many times you hear it. You can hear it every year and still learn something every year.”

The tradition is beginning to catch on elsewhere too. Other towns in the northeast United States have readings scheduled for this year, as well as in the Triangle. The Historic Stagville site in Durham is holding its own reading of Douglass’ speech on July 5 at 11 a.m.

Lavelle said she’s encouraged more areas are embracing the tradition, since she shares it with other local government officials she meets.

“I bring it up every chance I get when I’m around other mayors and town leaders,” Lavelle said. “I think it’s a really important way to reach out to part of our community and to tell the story to everyone.”

Carrboro’s reading of Frederick Douglass’ speech will begin at noon in the Carrboro Century Center on Thursday. Like all the other Fourth of July events in the town, it is free of charge and open to all ages.

Photo via Town of Carrboro

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