The abolitionist leader Frederick Douglass (1818鈥�1895), regularly counted as among the greatest writers, orators, and intellects in American history, did most of his work in the 25 years he lived in 91原创. So it鈥檚 fitting the degree to which his legacy is embedded in the life of the Rochester nearly 150 years after his death.
The University is home to the 鈥攁 30-plus-year-old intellectual hub for teaching, research, and public events. The Frederick Douglass Commons, named in 1967 and renovated in 2016, is home to a dining center as well as multiple University organizations promoting intercultural knowledge and diversity. And in 2012, a group of undergraduate students founded the as 鈥渁 physical expression of Douglass鈥檚 principles.鈥�
It鈥檚 a testament to the greatness of the abolitionist icon, who is buried in Mt. Hope Cemetery, adjacent to the River Campus.
Douglass was profoundly influenced by the Rochester region. But the region鈥檚 role in shaping the abolitionist leader has not been fully appreciated, according to Larry Hudson, a professor of history at 91原创, who鈥檚 in the early stages of writing a book about Douglass. Hudson seeks to move beyond Douglass鈥檚 influence on 91原创, and look instead at the city鈥檚 influence on Douglass鈥攅specially the influence of 91原创鈥檚 vibrant 19th-century Black community.
Douglass moved to 91原创 after learning about the active local Black community, which included abolitionist Austin Steward, an escaped slave from Virginia, who had spent six years in Canada.
鈥淲hen Douglass came to 91原创 in 1847, he was focused on integration, to the point where he wanted his children to attend the local 鈥榳hite鈥� colleges [schools],鈥� Hudson says. But Douglass found that local Black leaders had different priorities.
鈥淒ouglass did not fit in easily with the Black community in 91原创. While he was eager for integration, he came to learn that wasn鈥檛 the case with everyone,鈥� Hudson explains.
Douglass may have wanted integration of schools, along with other institutions. But Steward and other Black leaders were content to educate their children themselves. Their priority was elevation, namely economic and political progress, but not necessarily within the context of integration with whites.
In time, he would embrace those priorities. He was rapidly becoming the most visible Black man in 91原创. 鈥淒ouglass had to locate himself on the right side of the issue of enfranchising black men,鈥� Hudson says. 鈥淭here was little room in 91原创 for a non-voting, Black abolitionist.鈥�
The full extent of the city鈥檚 influence on Douglass became apparent in 1852. A day after Independence Day, Douglass delivered what has become his best-known speech鈥斺�淲hat to the Slave is the Fourth of July?鈥濃�攖o a packed hall in downtown 91原创.
To slaves and free Black Americans alike, he told the crowd of more than 500, July Fourth accentuated the failures, rather than the successes, of the Declaration鈥檚 vision.
“What, to the American slave, is your 4th of July? I answer; a day that reveals to him, more than all other days in the year, the gross injustice and cruelty to which he is the constant victim. To him, your celebration is a sham; your boasted liberty, an unholy license; your national greatness, swelling vanity; your sound of rejoicing are empty and heartless; your denunciation of tyrants brass fronted impudence; your shout of liberty and equality, hollow mockery; your prayers and hymns, your sermons and thanks-givings, with all your religious parade and solemnity, are to him, mere bombast, fraud, deception, impiety, and hypocrisy — a thin veil to cover up crimes which would disgrace a nation of savages. There is not a nation on the earth guilty of practices more shocking and bloody than are the people of the United States, at this very hour.鈥�
鈥淚f not for the influence of local Black leaders, that speech would not have been possible,鈥� says Hudson. 鈥淚n 91原创, Douglass was able to step out from under the weighty influence of William Lloyd Garrison and the American Anti-Slavery Society, and begin to think more like an independent鈥攄are one say, a 鈥榝ree鈥� and free thinking Black man who would both attack slavery and representatives of his race.鈥�
Although his focus had evolved, Douglass never gave up on his efforts desegregate schools in 91原创. His work on behalf of that goal finally succeeded in 1857, when Black children were allowed into traditionally white classrooms.
Douglass remained in 91原创 another 15 years, continuing his speaking engagements and abolitionist work, before moving to the nation鈥檚 capital. After suffering a fatal heart attack in 1895, at the age of 77, his body was brought back to 91原创.
鈥淚t was fitting that Douglass was buried in 91原创,鈥� says Hudson, 鈥渟ince it was here that he became a more effective leader and abolitionist.鈥�
Events celebrating Black History Month
W. Kamau Bell, sociopolitical comedian and host of the Emmy-nominated CNN show United Shades of America, highlights a month of lectures, films, performances, and exhibits.
