Next to Martin Luther King, Jr., Frederick Douglass was probably the greatest African American in U.S. history. However, he was more than a great African American; he was a great American, tirelessly striving to make our country live up to the promises in its founding documents. This talk will examine his early life, his flight to freedom, living free in New Bedford, his call to action, his tireless fight for abolition and rights both before and during the Civil War, and his post-Civil War activism, posts, and frustrations. Q & A to follow.
After a 21-year career as an infantry officer in the Army, Fred Zilian, Ph.D., was for 23 years an educator at Portsmouth Abbey School, where he taught history, ethics, and German. He recently retired as an Adjunct Professor at Salve Regina University, Newport, RI, where he taught history and politics. Zilian is a board member and heads the Education Committee of the Rhode Island Slave History Medallions organization (RISHM.org). He is also a contributor to The Hill and The History News Network and a columnist for the Newport Daily News. He blogs with historical, political, social and cultural commentary at www.zilianblog.com. He lives in Portsmouth with his wife.
Room Reservation:
Wednesday, February 09
Program Time:
6:30pm - 7:30pm
Event Category:
Event Location:
Name of Organization:
Portsmouth Free Public Library
Contact Name:
Carolyn Magnus
Contact Phone Number:
401 683-9457 ext. 113
Contact Email:
carolyn.magnus@gmail.com