The 13th Annual Frederick Douglass Read-A-Thon was held as (re-)scheduled this past Sunday. In contrast to last year's event, we weren't graced with the presence of Miss New Bedford or Barney Frank. We did, however, hear excellent readings from two young men—one barely taller than the podium. (That's the kind of thing that renews one's faith in the future.) Also reading were two MDM regulars: Michael Dyer (Maritime Curator of the Whaling Museum) and Jennifer Nersesian (in her National Historical Park uniform).
The New Bedford Quakers were early proponents of abolitionism, organizing their anti-slavery society in 1834. Frederick Douglass and his wife settled in New Bedford after his escape from slavery in 1838.
The local paper, The Standard-Times, covered the event.
