For the past four years, the Peters Family, descendants of Cesar Peters — an enslaved man who lived and worked in Hebron and with his wife raised a family — have played an important tole is Hebron’s Juneteenth Celebration.
During this time, our relationship with the Peters family has grown and strengthened…such that, we asked (and they agreed) that this year’s celebration will be organized by members of the Peters family, with CoDE’s support. We’ve come full circle in understanding how a predominantly white organization can best honor and celebrate the history of our Black neighbors – by standing back while they lead.
So, this year’s Juneteenth Celebration in Hebron will be hosted by The Peters Family and CoDE. It will be held on Saturday, June 20th, from 12-3pm at the historic Peters House in Hebron. There will be music, drumming and dance, storytelling, food, children’s activities, and discussions about the lives of Cesar Peters and his descendants. We hope you’ll join us for this special day!
In addition, on Friday, June 19th, there will be a special performance at St. Peter’s Church (in a collaboration between the Sanctuary Performing Arts and CoDE).
“What to a Slave is the Fourth of July” – a portrayal of Frederick Douglass
June 19, 6:30 – 8pm
St. Peter’s Church, 30 Church St, Hebron
This speech was given by Frederick Douglass to the Rochester Ladies’ Anti-Slavery Society on July 5, 1852. It became one of Douglass’s most famous speeches—criticizing the chasm between America’s founding principles and the institution of slavery. Douglass lamented that Independence Day wasn’t a day of celebration for enslaved people. At the same time, he urged his audience to read the U.S. Constitution not as a pro-slavery document, but as a “GLORIOUS LIBERTY DOCUMENT.”
Since 1985, actor and orator Fred Morsell has embodied Frederick Douglass in performances across the country. Working with Ron Kolanowski, Morsell brought Douglass to life in Washington DC, bringing it to every high school thanks to a grant by the National Humanities Council and the Caring Institute in 1991.
He will perform this great speech as part of Hebron’s Juneteenth Weekend.
Now 85 years old, Morsell will be coming to Hebron us all the way from his home in Montana. His performance is in the great tradition of historical enactment performers, much in the same way Hal Holbrook embodied Mark Twain.
You can purchase tickets for the performance ($20 for adults, $5 for youth) by clicking this link: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/juneteenth-3 or use this QR code.
