Friday | July 14 | DAY 5
Happy #DouglassWeek 2023
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Happy #DouglassWeek 2023 〰️
DAY 5 - Another exciting day!
The day started with a remarkable historical moment and conversation because Douglass descendants Nettie Washington Douglass and Kenneth B. Morris, Jr., met with Kathy Carr, a descendant of Elizabeth and Neal Hardy, who saved Frederick Douglass from a mob attack in Indianapolis in 1843. As promised, we have recorded it for posterity and will share with you very soon!
Did you check out Billy’s video? It’s fantastic. 7-year-old Billy Chalton made it himself and share with us informaiton about Frederick Douglass in his hometown, Newcastle Upon Tyne. We loved it!
After that, Mark Doherty and Dr. Tom Thorpe, the founders of the Anti-Slavery Belfast tour, took us on a virtual tour through the lesser known history of Belfast’s complicity in the transatlantic slave trade and the city’s valiant role as a hotspot of abolitionist activism from the late 18th century to the mid-Victorian era.
Our next event was another Douglass Dialogue event with Kenneth B. Morris, Jr., great-great-great grandson of Frederick and Anna Douglass and Professor Celeste-Marie Bernier (University of Edinburgh). The two of them had an online conversation, providing response and contemplation about facts and stories revealed through Bernier’s extensive research into the lives of the Douglass grandchildren. This was the third conversation in a series between Bernier and Morris about the Douglass women and the Douglass sons. The two prior conversations, which took place during #DW2022, are available on our YouTube channel.
In the evening, Dr. Jesse Olsavsky (Duke Kunshan University) did a talk about how the ideas and deeds of Frederick Douglass were remembered and reinvoked in the Pan-African Movement.
Watch and rewatch everything that happened on DAY 5 on our YouTube channel! Enjoy!
Want to know what’s happening tomorrow?
Tomorrow, for the second to last day, we have a BIGGGG day planned for you!
Gather family and friends and join us at the Frederick Douglass Community Library in Rochester for three hours of fun, family-friendly activities. Activities include storytelling, reenactments, an art installation, activity stations, opportunities to meet members of the Douglass family and more! The location is Frederick Douglass Community Library, 971 South Ave & Anna Murray-Douglass Academy No. 12, 999 South Ave, Rochester, NY.
After that, local artist LaShonda Davis will talk about her installation of a multi-panel portrait of Frederick Douglass at the Frederick Douglass Community Library. The painting is a powerful image — one that invokes respect, admiration, and unity — and its size and scope will help amplify Douglass’ message and raise awareness of his work in the community. You will have an opportunity to meet the Davis and participate in a Q&A session.
In the evening, we will hold a very special evening of performances and readings at the historic Hochstein School of Music that celebrates the Douglass family in Rochester and features highlights of Frederick Douglass' connection to Ireland. The show includes Douglass family members, local musicians and dancers and others. Highlights of the evening include: Broadway actors and singers Paul Oakley Stovall (Hamilton), Nikhil Saboo (Mean Girls, Dear Evan Hansen) and Yassmin Alers (Rent, Get on Your Feet, Geva Theatre production of In the Heights), performing original songs exploring Frederick Douglass' travels in Ireland as well as songs from the musical American Prophet that debuted at Arena Stage in Washington, DC in 2022. The event will also include a performance by Dunwoody Dance group, a performance by PJ Pennewell of Garth Fagan Dance, a performance by Dr. Jeannie Ma. Guerrero (Eastman School of Music) and a string-quartet composition performance, readings and speeches by Kenneth B. Morris, Jr., great-great-great grandson of Frederick Douglass, Richard Dollinger, and others
If you can’t be there in person or a scheduled event does not suit your schedule, you may go to our YouTube channel and watch and rewatch all of our events!