Frederick Douglass in Newburgh
Image credit: Gabe Berlin of FishBulb Design
In 1870, Frederick Douglass traveled through the Hudson Valley delivering a speech that endorsed the ratification of the 15th Amendment, providing the right for African Americans to vote. Specifically, on August 11, Frederick Douglass came to Newburgh and delivered his speech at the Opera House, a now demolished Broadway structure.
To commemorate the 150th anniversary and the legacy of Frederick Douglass, a group of organizations and individuals have been planning a series of events for the past two years as a way to raise awareness of this historic milestone and inspire civic reflection and action. Note: This project was spearheaded by Dept of Small Interventions and collaborators with the fiscal sponsorship of The Fullerton.
Projectsincluded:
• Barbershop Conversations : Civic Conversations
• Newburgh Barbershop Photo Exhibition with Newburgh Community Photo Project
• 'I Voted' Frederick Douglass Sticker for 2019 Mid-Term Elections
• Children's Reading Series with Gabrielle Hill
• Newburgh Peoples Chorus featuring curator Naima Safia Sandy
• Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass Book Discussion at Newburgh Free Library
• Black Citizenship Poster by Thornwillow Press
• Audre Lorde Reading Group
• "Frederick Douglass in Newburgh" walking tour map was researched and created to identify and celebrate the significant historical sites of Newburgh's African American history. This project was funded by Orange County Tourism Office. Design is produced by Fishbulb Design and Par Avion Press. >> Download your copy here.
>>> On August 11, 2020 a number of events were organized including the unveiling of a mural by Vernon Byron, the reenactment of a Frederick Douglass speech by actor Oliver King, a City Council proclamation of this anniversary, the publication of a limited edition broadside with the famous orator's quotes by Thornwillow Press, and a musical performance by Christopher Dean Sullivan.
All events happened across the street from Newburgh's AME Zion Church, one of the oldest African American Churches in the Hudson Valley and where Douglass visited while in Newburgh.
Frederick Douglass in Newburgh is a consortium of diverse organizations including The Black History Committee of the Hudson Valley, Dept. of Small Interventions, Historical Society of Newburgh Bay & the Highlands, Newburgh Free Library, The Restorative Justice Center, Thornwillow Press and other individuals including Natalie McKensie and County Historian. Thank you to Humanities New York, Awesome Newburgh Foundation, Arts-Mid Hudson and The Fullerton for fiscal sponsorship.
For more information on program visit the Facebook Page at bit.ly/DouglassinNB
For resources on Frederick Douglass, visit the Newburgh Free Library's page https://guides.rcls.org/FrederickDouglass/inNewburgh
Thank you to Humanities New York for supporting the overall program. Thank you to Arts Mid-Hudson for support for Newburgh People’s Chorus. Without their support and many other volunteers and collaborators, these beautiful events could not flourish.