“The Disparity Between Us”: Frederick Douglass’s What to the Slave is the 4th of July? at the West Southern Pines Cultural Arts Center
“The past is never dead. It’s not even past” - William Faulkner
On Saturday, July 5, 2025, 173 years after Frederick Douglass first delivered his keynote address at a 4th of July celebration, the Sandhills Coalition of the North Carolina Poor People’s Campaign presented a rendering of the address in the auditorium of the West Southern Pines Civic Center.
Rev. Charles McKnight, Pastor at New Zion AME Zion Church in Addor, a historically black community in Pine Bluff, NC.
Rev. Charles McKnight set the stage for the address using history, scriptures, and music to connect the dark times in the decade before the civil war to the dark time we find ourselves in now.
The rendering of Mr. Douglass’s prophetic words was given on this day by members of the West Southern Pines Community, friends and allies.
Ana Ilarraza-Balckburn of Women Leading for Health and Wellness
O’Linda Watkins-McSurely from Nc Poor People’s Campaign Sandhills Circle
Rev. Phil Hardy. Pastor at Congregational Church if Pinehurst, with O’Linda Watkins-McSurely gives the convocation to people who will have to deal with the ugly consequences of Donald Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill”.
