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Can civil disobedience affect true social change?
Join us for a thought-provoking exploration of Thoreau’s participation in the Underground Railroad, his abolitionist views and the night he spent in jail. The written works of Thoreau, now 175 years old, have historically inspired --and continue to inspire-- civil rights movements around the world.
Near the end of July 1846, Henry David Thoreau was arrested in his hometown of Concord, Massachusetts for not paying his poll tax. It was a low-key event; few people knew about Thoreau's arrest when it happened, and it was only when he lectured on it two years later that the town of Concord became aware of his imprisonment and the reasons for his arrest.
In 1849, Thoreau published the essay "Resistance to Civil Government". It would be republished 17 years later under the title for which it's now best known, "Civil Disobedience."
Join Concord public historian Richard Smith as he tells the story of Thoreau's civil disobedience, the reasons behind it, and the consequences of his actions. Why are Thoreau's words more powerful and influential now than they were in 1849?
The Thoreau Society is able to offer this presentation free of charge to the RPL thanks to a grant from Mass Humanities and the Mass Cultural Council. The Thoreau Society aims to generate meaningful dialogue through sharing Thoreau’s insights with as many people as possible.
AGE GROUP: | Adults |
EVENT TYPE: | Lectures | In-Person Event |
We strive to host inclusive, accessible events that enable all individuals to engage fully. To ask questions about accessibility or request accommodations, please contact the library at rdgadmin@noblenet.org.
If the Reading Public schools are closed due to snow, all Children's programming will be canceled.
