Douglass Mind Blog
– Frederick Douglass
(Masthead of The North Star)
Today, our efforts and the efforts of many other modern abolitionists and antiracists are sprawled throughout the internet. The Douglass Mind Blog is meant to give voice to you for expanding ideas on antiracism and abolitionism. On this page, we will also keep you up-to-date with our initiatives, press releases, and general news about racism and human trafficking.
The time to act is now! Join Our Cause.
Douglass Mind Blog
Press Release: Monroe County Students Help Design History
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Tiffany Nicholas at (585) 286-9029 tnicholas@fdfi.org Monroe County Students Help Design History (December 2, 2020, Rochester, NY) Fuzzy pictures and mathematical equations can help scientists understand the oldest and most...
Rochester Youth are Invited to Create Portraits of Anna Murray Douglass
To build strong children and to end systems of exploitation and oppression. October 20, 2020 Dear Friend, Authors of the book, Picturing Frederick Douglass, called Douglass the “Most Photographed American of the Nineteenth Century.” Yet, there are only two known...
Press Release: Local Organization Invites Youth to Create Portraits of Anna Murray Douglass
(October 8, 2020, Rochester, NY) Authors of the book, Picturing Frederick Douglass (Stauffer, John et. al.; Liveright 2015) called Douglass the “Most Photographed Man of the Nineteenth Century.” Yet, there are only two known images of Anna Murray Douglass, Frederick’s wife of 44 years, mother of their five children, steward of his legacy and household, and co-conductor of their Rochester stop on the Underground Railroad. “My husband is battling with the minions of oppression,” Anna commented on her work, “why not I endure hardship that my race may be free?”
Press Release: The Legacy of Lynching is Alive in America
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Robert J. Benz at (585) 310-4559 rbenz@fdfi.org “The Legacy of Lynching is Alive in America” Ida B. Wells and Frederick Douglass Descendants Respond to Death of Daniel Prude (September 4, 2020, Rochester, NY) Michelle Duster and...
Irish Times – Irish visits by Lewis and Douglass
From left to right: Nettie Washington Douglass, Rep. John Lewis, Kristin Leary, and Christine Kinealy pose with a maquette of Frederick Douglass in Ireland Irish Times Fri, Jul 31, 2020, 00:37 Sir, – In August 1845, Frederick Douglass arrived in Europe just months...
Srebrenica and Black Lives Matter, by David Livingstone Smith
A woman prays at a graveyard, ahead of a mass funeral in Potocari near Srebrenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina July 11, 2020. Bosnia marks the 25th anniversary of the massacre of more than 8,000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys, with many relatives unable to attend due to the...
The Voice of The Future
The Next Step by Anvi B., Age 14, Southern California
An acronym that has recently gained prominence on social media is “ACAB.” Although it stands for “All cops are bastards” the words are unfortunately misleading, as it refers not to individual police officers but to a system that needs more internal controls and...
Racism is a Virus by Siole B., Age 15, Bowie, MD Racism is a Virus
Similar to Covid-19, racial oppression is like a virus/disease. The whole world is in chaos. All over the world, our beautiful black men, women, and children are getting killed by the police. A possible remedy for this disease is to get everyone around the world to...
Racial Oppression: A Disease That Can Be Cured by Arnav J., Age 16, Mumbai, India
Oppression is the systemic and institutional abuse of power by one group at the expense of others and the use of force to maintain that dynamic. Racial oppression is a kind of disease and must be cured. A global crisis such as COVID 19 has been labelled a pandemic but...
New Color; New Nation by Harshith M., Age 16, Clarksburg, MD
Though various attempts were made by many who have been honored and respected in the history of our nation, who tried to instill equality and social justice to an entirety, racial oppression still exists and casts an evil eye on the innocent. Through the...
Unjustly Oppressed by Porsche S., Age 17, Winston-Salem, NC
Prejudgments color perceptions. During the novel coronavirus pandemic, I immersed myself in the Sunday School teaching of “Injustice Will Be Punished.” My curious thoughts intensified during the lesson; it was then time for me to present. “Frederick Douglass was a...
One-By-One, We Can Make a Difference by Ebony C., Age 16, La Jolla, CA
The first step you, as an individual, can take in the fight against racism is informing yourself on the idea of oppression. Oppression can be defined as the exertion of power in an unfair manner. To recognize oppression, we must look at it in a big picture. The...
The Plea for Justice by Zoha A.
(Pictured: Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain celebrates on the podium after winning the Styrian Formula One Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring racetrack in Spielberg, Austria, Sunday, July 12, 2020. (Joe Klamar/Pool via AP)) Hello, My name is Zoha A. I am...
GRAND PRIZE WINNING BLOG: A Letter to the Schools Who Taught Us Otherwise by Isaac L.
(Pictured: Isaac L., Age 15, Irvine, CA) It was first-grade; I was seven. A classmate came up to me during lunch and started chanting, "Chinese, Japanese, dirty knees, look at these." He paired the insensitive rhyme with the equally insensitive movement of his...
WINNING BLOG: Educate, Participate and Be Heard! by Tasneem G.
(Pictured: Tasneem G., Age 14, Lexington, MA) On June 4th, 2020, hundreds of Lexington, MA residents, including myself, gathered in the town center to protest systematic racism. However, I was unaware that just the previous day, the Lexington town hall had just passed...
WINNING BLOG: A Plan For Change by Gladys G.
(Pictured: Gladys G., Age 18, Oklahoma City, OK) I have found myself in a weird position. I am too tired to fight, but I am also enraged by the things going on around me. Lately, my emotions have led me throughout these times of distress, but what happens after this?...
On July 4th, 2020, Frederick Douglass Family Initiatives hosted a live webcast to discuss ideas to remedy “the disease of racism” in our country. Please click the play button to learn more about Douglass’s famous speech “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July” and hear from Douglass descendants, young orators, award-winning bloggers, a gospel singer, and young activists. We also hosted the world premiere of a song from the new Douglass musical, American Prophet. Check out the event. We know you will be inspired!
The FDFI online store is coming soon! Please enter your information below and you’ll be among the first to be notified when FDFI gear is available!
FREDERICK DOUGLASS REMEDIES
Image below created by Nikkolas Smith.
Purchase a 14″x16″ High quality, Lasal Photo Matte Print, signed by the author. A portion of proceeds from sales of this print will be donated to benefit the work and mission of FDFI.
Click here to purchase.
Share your story with FDFI — Read the stories of others — Join the fight for justice & equality
Frederick Douglass Family Initiatives in the News
Press Release: Monroe County Students Help Design History
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Tiffany Nicholas at (585) 286-9029 tnicholas@fdfi.org Monroe County Students Help Design History (December 2, 2020, Rochester, NY) Fuzzy pictures and mathematical equations can help scientists understand the oldest and most...
Rochester Youth are Invited to Create Portraits of Anna Murray Douglass
To build strong children and to end systems of exploitation and oppression. October 20, 2020 Dear Friend, Authors of the book, Picturing Frederick Douglass, called Douglass the “Most Photographed American of the Nineteenth Century.” Yet, there are only two known...
Press Release: Local Organization Invites Youth to Create Portraits of Anna Murray Douglass
(October 8, 2020, Rochester, NY) Authors of the book, Picturing Frederick Douglass (Stauffer, John et. al.; Liveright 2015) called Douglass the “Most Photographed Man of the Nineteenth Century.” Yet, there are only two known images of Anna Murray Douglass, Frederick’s wife of 44 years, mother of their five children, steward of his legacy and household, and co-conductor of their Rochester stop on the Underground Railroad. “My husband is battling with the minions of oppression,” Anna commented on her work, “why not I endure hardship that my race may be free?”
Press Release: The Legacy of Lynching is Alive in America
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Robert J. Benz at (585) 310-4559 rbenz@fdfi.org “The Legacy of Lynching is Alive in America” Ida B. Wells and Frederick Douglass Descendants Respond to Death of Daniel Prude (September 4, 2020, Rochester, NY) Michelle Duster and...
Press Release: Frederick Douglass Family Expresses Gratitude For Rochester Airport Name Change
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Robert J. Benz at (585) 310-4559 rbenz@fdfi.org Frederick Douglass Family Expresses Gratitude For Rochester Airport Name Change (August 11, 2020, Rochester, NY) Direct descendants of Frederick Douglass responded tonight to reports...
Young Writers Express Their Inspiring Views on “Remedies” for Racism
See the original post here! At Grammarly, we believe that writing has the power to connect and inspire—to express our deepest convictions and give shape to powerful, necessary ideas. That’s why this summer we were so proud to partner with Frederick Douglass Family...
Press Release: Frederick Douglass Family Responds To Statue Vandalism
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Robert J. Benz at (585) 310-4559 rbenz@fdfi.org Frederick Douglass Family Responds To Statue Vandalism (July 6, 2020, Rochester, NY) The direct descendants of Frederick Douglass responded to the destruction of a Douglass statue...
Rochester students win Frederick Douglass Family Initiative blog entry contest
by: Jack Watson RochesterFirst.com Posted: Jul 4, 2020 / 08:30 PM EDT / Updated: Jul 4, 2020 / 08:30 PM EDT ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — Three students in the Rochester area are being recognized for their entries in a contest aimed at discussing solutions...
Press Release: Frederick Douglass Family Hosts July Fourth Webcast
Frederick Douglass Family Initiatives (FDFI) will host a live webcast to announce the winners of their Remedies Blog Contest. The webcast will showcase Rochester, NY-based orators; young activist, Yolanda King, granddaughter of Martin Luther King, Jr.; gospel singer, Keedron Bryant; Marva Hicks singing a song from the new Douglass musical, American Prophet and Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom, David Blight.
Grammarly Partners with Frederick Douglass Family Initiatives to Inspire and Support Young Writers
Words have the power to inspire change, forge stronger connections, and bring communities together. The need to clearly communicate ideas is just as relevant today as it has been for centuries. Words can—and have—ignited entire movements.
The time to act is now!
JOIN THE MOVEMENT
Frederick Douglass Family Initiatives
140 E. Main Street
Rochester, NY 14604
Jon P. Getz, Esq., Partner
Vahey Getz LLP
144 Exchange Blvd, Suite 400
Rochester, New York 14614
585-262-5130 | Fax: 585-262-3474
Frederick Douglass Family Foundation (Initiatives) is a 501(c)3 public charity – EIN #26-0757405
Click here to view FDFI’s IRS Determination Letter