Commemorate Frederick Douglass with us!
CALL FOR CONTRIBUTIONS: #DouglassWeek - Creative Commemorations
We cordially invite you to participate in #DouglassWeek and are looking forward to your creative responses, ideas and thoughts regarding your commemorative projects or events. Join us in celebrating Frederick Douglass and the 175th anniversary of his transformative journey to Ireland. How would YOU like to remember Frederick Douglass and everything he stands for?
We invite you to respond to Douglass’s work and words and to engage with Douglass’s journey across the island. We welcome any “Creative Commemorations” ideas from Douglass enthusiasts around the world. #DouglassWeek aims to connect people who share an interest and passion for Frederick Douglass, but also offers a platform for people to discuss contemporary issues related to his life and legacy: racism and racial justice, human and civil rights activism, social activism, refugee crises, American-Irish relations, creative forms of commemoration, and other related topics that remain relevant in the 21st century.
Individuals as well as schools, universities, clubs, libraries and any other interested community members and groups are cordially invited to participate in #DouglassWeek in order to showcase the continued importance and relevance of Frederick Douglass.
We are delighted that you are interested in #DouglassWeek and thank you for getting in touch. We look forward to talking with you about your exciting plans and we will contact you as soon as possible.
Participants should note that we kindly ask you to document your event(s) personally or with the help of an affiliated institution, e.g. in the form of a video, photos and/or a brief summary.
NOTE: Due to current health restrictions, the majority of events will be run virtually, in a blended format or with social distancing measures in place. Government guidelines should be followed where appropriate.
For more information please email us at info@douglassincork.com.
Join us today and let’s celebrate Douglass together!
Event and Project Ideas
Host an educational project around Douglass and themes related to his life and legacy: abolitionism; Black history; global struggles for freedom; historical links between Ireland and the US, racial justice, anti-human trafficking efforts, modern day slavery, human rights
Facilitate an open day in a venue where Douglass lectured
Design or install a commemorative plaque or statue in your city or county, dedicated to Douglass or other abolitionists who visited Ireland
Offer an art workshop or other creative event
Host a trivia or quiz night about Douglass or related topics
Submit an entry for the International Douglass poetry competition (see here for detail)
Organize a reading, talk or conversation with a community member or prominent figure in your town
Facilitate/Perform a dance or music event responding to Douglass’s visit in 1845
Host a panel with educators and academic experts and/or creative thinkers
Virtual/in-person walking tours of your town, highlighting where Douglass spoke or showcasing other anti-racist, racial awareness projects in your community
Host a poetry reading, a poetry slam or a virtual concert featuring performances of songs and poem that were written to welcome Douglass in Ireland (email us for access to these works)
Arrange a book swap for the Douglass’s Narrative or other important books that reflect on challenges that, we all, as a society, should confront
Create a small (or big) pop-up exhibition
Initiate a (virtual) cultural exchange day between an Irish secondary school and an American high school, dedicating a lesson to Frederick Douglass together
You might be interested in organizing other outreach events and we are more than happy to assist you in developing your unique and exciting ideas and are looking forward to hearing from you!