Black history will come alive Wednesday night when the great-great-grandson of one of America's most renowned abolitionists gives a drama presentation to honor his ancestor's legacy.
Frederick Douglass IV, whose great-great-grandfather and namesake, became one of the most prominent blacks in the United States during the Civil War era, will perform with his wife, B.J., at 7 p.m. in Pruis Hall. The event is free to the public.
Douglass' performance will be featured as part of Ball State's Multicultural Center's One World Series, which strives to raise awareness of multicultural issues in American history. The event is co-sponsored by the Office of Leadership and Service Learning.
Melody Fisher, assistant director of the Multicultural Center, said Douglass' visit to campus will encourage students and local residents to honor events in black history that people often forget about.
"His great-great-grandfather really played a major part in American history," Fisher said. "We felt he should come to support and encourage his family's legacy."
Douglass, a photojournalist who founded the non-profit Frederick Douglass Organization Inc., will recite portions of his ancestor's speeches and will re-enact on stage episodes of his life. Douglass' wife will portray Anna Murray Douglass, his great-great-grandmother.
The performance will center around key events during the Civil War era, particularly around 1865, when President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation.
Fisher said Douglass' presentation at Ball State is one of his first stops on his "166 Years of Freedom" tour, which honors the 166 years since Frederick Douglass escaped slavery from Baltimore in 1838. The tour, launched Jan. 4 in Detroit, will continue in several states including Florida, New York and Washington, Fisher said.
Senior LaNette Sims, vice president of Black Student Association, said she is looking forward to attending Douglass' presentation Wednesday and was glad she was able to help BSA publicize the event on campus throughout the past few months.
"Students will be apt to come out to this well-known speaker and, after that, they will be more willing to come out to other Black History Month events."
Sims said she encourages all students to take the time to attend Wednesday's presentation and hopes they will leave with a better understanding of one of black history's pivotal figures.
Those who attend the performance will have the opportunity to meet history head-on, she said.
"It's always good to put a face with the name we hear about so much in our history classes," Sims said.
She said Wednesday's presentation will serve as a good predecessor to the BSA's final Black History 101 class, which will be held Feb. 25. The class will discuss whether blacks in today's society still need reparations for the slavery and racial discrimination they faced for centuries.
Fisher said she encourages students of all races to continue enhancing their knowledge about such issues by attending both Wednesday's presentation and remaining Black History Month events.
"Black history is American history," Fisher said. "It's important for everyone to realize that, and I hope more students walk away from this month knowing that."
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