An Evening with Frederick Douglass

Frederick Douglass was a runaway slave who fled north and overcame incredible adversity and extreme hardships to become one of the greatest abolitionists of his time. Douglass, who was best known for his writings and oratorical career, was passionate about fighting the horrors of white supremacy and liberating former black slaves in the United States.


In this two-act play, Dr. Earnest Bracey, a professor of African American history, not only allows others to learn about American slavery and the universal truths of race and the humanity of all people, but also shares tantalizing facts about Douglass’s celebrated life that highlight his best traits like self-control, dignity, and grace under pressure. Additionally, Bracey invites others into a world that emphasizes the contributions and accomplishments African Americans made in shaping our divisive culture while vividly describing how black people managed to survive their enslavement despite obstacles such as lynchings, Black Codes, Jim Crow laws, and legal segregation.


An Evening with Frederick Douglass provides a glimpse into the life of a much-admired orator and abolitionist who accomplished great feats during an ugly time in American history.