Projects and collaborations
We will keep adding to this page as we add projects and collaborations to #DouglassWeek.
Interview with Douglass descendant Kenneth B. Morris, Jr., and American Prophet Director Charles Randolph-Wright
Thanks to all who were able to join for the Musical Evening on the 10th, 2021! We were so inspired by the all of the phenomenal contributors. We wanted to pass along this engaging conversation about the inspiration and development for American Prophet, the upcoming musical about Douglass, between Douglass descendant Kenneth B. Morris, Jr., and American Prophet Director Charles Randolph-Wright.
#DouglassWeek flag
#DouglassWeek flag flying at University College Cork; an idea brought to us by the wonderful Dr. Amanullah De Sondy.
Museum of Childhood
Check out what the Museum of Childhood is doing for #DouglassWeek!
Painting of Frederick Douglass
Dr. Kathleen Reardon had painted a absolutely beautiful watercolor picture of Frederick Douglass to celebrate #DouglassWeek with us.
Sonic Collage of Douglass in Ireland
Sonic Collage of Douglass in Ireland by sound artist Isabel Ronan (University College Cork). Inspired by the highly evocative writings of Frederick Douglass, this sonic description invites you to delve into the past voyages of the celebrated orator, focusing on the abolitionist’s journey to Ireland. Narrated by the fabulous radio presenter and DJ, Stevie G, explore the past via extracts from Douglass’s My Bondage and My Freedom.
Inspired by the highly evocative writings of Frederick Douglass, this sonic description invites you to delve into the past voyages of the celebrated orator, focusing on the abolitionist’s journey to Ireland. Narrated by the fabulous radio presenter and DJ, Stevie G, explore the past via extracts from Douglass’ My Bondage and My Freedom.
Isabel Ronan is a Cork born and bred composer, sound designer, and saxophonist. Currently studying music at UCC, she strives to create sonic satisfaction wherever she can, and hopes to bring smiles to the faces of all who listen to her work.
Words of Welcome and Support (Videos)
Pre-recorded video messages from educators, politicians and family members, including the Lord Mayor of Cork Joe Kavanagh, UCC Interim President Prof. John Halloran, the Lord Mayor of Dublin Hazel Chu, Nettie Washington Douglass, Kenneth B. Morris Jr., Georgetown University and many others. We will upload these videos in the next few days and you can also find them on our YouTube channel.
#DouglassWeek | The Dialogue Code
Video message and survey: Click below for a survey for women to voice their issues and solutions for change
Watch the video by The Dialogue Code founders and participants below.
"Freedom" by Irish tenor Emmet Cahill, pianist Seamus Brett and composer Marcus Hummon
We are grateful to Irish tenor Emmet Cahill and pianist Seamus Brett for this beautiful recording of an abridged version of "What Does Freedom Look Like?", from the musical American Prophet, opening at Arena Stage in Washington, DC, in 2021. Credit: Marcus Hummon (composer), Emmet Cahill (vocals), Seamus Brett (piano). For more information on American Prophet, please visit www.americanprophetthemusical.com.
Words to Shape My Name
LAURA McKENNA is a writer of fiction and poetry and worked for many years as a child psychiatrist. Words to Shape My Name was longlisted for the 2019 Bath Novel Award and was a winner at the 2020 Irish Writers Centre Novel Fair. She is the recipient of Tyrone Guthrie, Cork County Council, John Montague Mentorship (Munster Literature Centre) and Arts Council bursaries. Twice nominated for a Hennessy Literary Award and a Forward Prize for poetry, Laura’s work has been published in The RTÉ Guide, Southword, Banshee and New Irish Writing. She has a PhD in Creative Writing from University College Cork.
Words to Shape my Name is published by New Island Books.
@lauramckwriter. Represented by Faith O’Grady @Lisa Richards
Video Performance
“Heritage”: A video performance featuring Black artists and personalities who represent, inspire and contribute to the visibility of Black people and Black culture in Ireland: Collaboration between Alessandra Azevedo, (Dancer, Afro-Brazilian Cultural facilitator, Dublin), Fionnuala O'Connell (Youth Project Worker, Artist, Cork), Andrea Williams (Dancer/Choreographer, Model, Actor and Art Director, Cork), Raphael Olympio (Rapper/Spoken Word Artist/ Songwriter, Cork).
Welcome to Barretstown
A 20-minute video targeted at a younger audience will explore themes that were very close to Douglass’s heart: resilience, overcoming and education.
Frederick Douglass’s Speeches
These pre-recorded readings of Douglass’s speeches in Cork, Limerick and Dublin, performed by Paul Oakley Stovall and Eon Grey
Rebel Matters Podcast
Interview with historian Dr. Laurence Fenton about Douglass, #DouglassWeek and Cork.
Musical contribution to #DouglassWeek
“Outside” by Paul Oakley Stovall and Nikhil Saboo
“Fire in My Eyes” - Song about Frederick Douglass's time in Ireland written and performed by Paul Oakley Stovall, Nicole Morris and Nikhil Saboo.
As part of #DouglassWeek, Don Maple talked about "The Roads That We Pave" and gave an exclusive live performance.
Climate Youth Artivists
Art project by Climate Youth Artivists (Cork): Connecting Douglass’s activism with efforts to end Direct Provision; this will be a digital work, but will be printed and installed as artwork in Cork City when possible. Find out more!
FOSTER BOY (film)
Exclusive Access to the film Foster Boy was available during #DouglassWeek.
Watch the trailer of Foster Boy here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oggMNKj2J4I
Shaquille O'Neal Explainer: www.vimeo.com/328554900
Website: www.fosterboy.com
Blog Contributions
This blog featuring guest contributions from participants including writers, students and activists involved in the Unsilencing Black Voices events and others.
Other collaborations and projects
Development of an Ireland-Focused Frederick Douglass Curriculum: A sub-committee of #DouglassWeek is adapting the Frederick Douglass “History, Human Rights and the Power of the One” educational curriculum, developed by the Frederick Douglass Family Initiatives, for an Irish context and audience. The committee will create a 1-hour lesson plan to create a comprehensive academic, educational curriculum to be offered to primary and secondary schools in Ireland in 2021-2022
Special Collaboration with the Frederick Douglass Family Initiatives and their One Million Abolitionists Project: The goal of the OMA project is to gift Douglass’s Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave to one million students and encourage civic engagement across the world. Following #DouglassWeek, we will present copies of his Narrative to pilot schools in Ireland (as part of the curriculum above) to continue to change and inspire the lives of young Irish readers
We will publish the following contributions to #DouglassWeek very soon:
Screening of a short film based on four perspectives on Frederick Douglass: The film is produced by the Cork Migrant Centre and partners. These perspectives will be narrated through spoken word and songs with the recurring theme of transformative change. The initiative is led by Friday Junior Osemwekhae
Pre-recorded Virtual Cork City Walking Tour with Dr. Laurence Fenton and Dr. Adrian Mulligan (Bucknell University)
Competition for Sticker Design by Unite the Union, aimed at young people (with cash prize), to encourage activism and participation
“Irishness Has No Colour”: Screening of film project by Unsilencing Black Voices
Publication of a Special Issue of Disrupt Magazine on the theme of Douglass’s visit, drawing on work produced and commissioned during #DouglassWeek