Frederick Douglass honored on his 199th birthday
The 19th-century abolitionist was honored at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Rochester on his birthday. Jeff DiVeronica
Tuesday was Valentine's Day but it was also recognized as the 199th birthday of Frederick Douglass, the former slave who became a world-renowned anti-slavery and human rights activist in the 1800s while living in Rochester.
When a group of local women realized nothing was being done to honor Douglass, they wanted to do something. So Rachel DeGuzman, local artist Amanda Chestnut and Mara Ahmed of Neelum Films formed the #ROC Douglass Consortium. DeGuzman is president and CEO of 21st Century Arts.
With the late-morning sun shining bright in 33-degree weather amid snow-covered headstones, they hosted a 90-minute ceremony at Douglass' grave on Tuesday at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Rochester to honor the abolitionist, author and great orator.
"Every opportunity to honor Frederick Douglass is vital, particularly because he was written out of the history of how slavery ended in this country for the longest time," Ahmed said. "Only in the 1960s was there some acknowledgement of Frederick Douglass' role as the father of the protest movement and the first of the freedom writers."
Famous Douglass speeches and writings were read aloud during Tuesday's event, which also included songs. Ahmed reminded those who gathered at the grave site about just how revolutionary Douglass was to lead such a movement toward equality in the 1800s.
Although Douglass' exact birthday isn't known, it's celebrated on Valentine's Day. February is also Black History Month. He was born into slavery sometime in February of 1818 in Maryland. Disguised as a sailor, he escaped slavery in 1838 and nine years later came to Rochester. He was 78 when he died on Feb. 20, 1895.
"A renaissance man with unequaled foresight, (Douglass) was one of the sharpest minds and strongest advocates for justice and equality in American history," Ahmed said.
FILE VIDEOS at MT. HOPE CEMETERY:
Columnist David Andreatta visits Frederick Douglass to ask him about his doing "an amazing job." David Andreatta
Final home to Susan B. Anthony and Frederick Douglass, Mt. Hope is a place for the living as well.