Orange County, the towns of Chapel Hill and Carrboro, and the Chapel Hill Chapter of the NAACP are planning a series of events throughout the county to commemorate the 200th birthday of the abolitionist and orator Frederick Douglass.
These are free events and open to the public.
Frederick Douglass at 200 Kickoff Celebration
Featuring Tarish “Jeghetto” Pipkins and Mary D. Williams
Thursday, January 25, 7 p.m.
United Church of Chapel Hill
Kick off a community-wide celebration of the life and legacy of Frederick Douglass with an evening of art and song. Visionary artist Tarish Pipkins, aka Jeghetto, will unveil his newest creation, a Frederick Douglass puppet and multi-media performance. Mary D. Williams, acclaimed gospel singer and scholar, will celebrate Douglass by singing the story of the African-American experience – from slavery to abolition and beyond.
Town of Carrboro celebrates Douglass at 200
Monday, February 5, 7 p.m.
Carrboro Century Center
Who was Frederick Douglass and why is he so important to us today? Join us as we celebrate the 200th anniversary of the birth of Frederick Douglass with presentations from James E. Williams Jr.,retired Orange/Chatham Chief Public Defender, Michelle Lanier, Executive Director of the North Carolina African American Heritage Commission, and Jaki Shelton Green, award-winning poet. Light refreshments provided.
Brightstar Theater presents Frederick Douglass
Sunday, February 11
2 p.m. Chapel Hill Public Library
4 p.m. Hargraves Community Center
Celebrate a hero of American History with this production from a highly acclaimed touring theater company. This show – best for 4th graders through adults – highlights Douglass’ awe-inspiring life, from his escape from a Maryland plantation to his days as a newspaper editor and celebrates both the power of education and a life of courage.
Frederick Douglass: Then and Now
Thursday, February 22, 7 p.m.
Chapel Hill Public Library, Meeting Room B
What would Frederick Douglass think of 2018? What did his contemporaries think of him? What was Douglass’s impact, then and now? A panel of scholars, including Reginald Hildebrand and Patrick Horn will consider and comment on these questions and more. Join us for this town/gown special event, co-sponsored by Carolina Public Humanities.
The Life of Frederick Douglass
Saturday, February 24 at 3:30
Chapel Hill Public Library – Meeting Room B
Experience the incredible life journey of Frederick Douglass through a multimedia of puppetry, music, and projected images based off of the abolitionist’s self-written biography. Produced by Jeghetto with original music from Shana Tucker.
Reading Douglass in Public
Wednesday, February 28, 6-8 p.m.
Orange County Public Library Main Branch
Join local authors, poets, historians and social justice advocates as they read from Douglass’ The Narrative.
Discuss “The Narrative”
Monday, March 5, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Orange County Public Library Main Branch
The First Monday Classics Book Club led by local authors from Hillsborough will discuss The Narrative. No need to register or be a member of the book club. Just come on by!
Nathan Richardson as Frederick Douglass
Thursday, March 8, 7 p.m.
The ArtsCenter, Carrboro
Celebrate the amazing life and legacy of Frederick Douglass with a live performance from poet Nathan Richardson. This free performance is open to the public and is sponsored by the Orange County Arts Commission and The ArtsCenter.
Facilitated Discussion of The Narrative
Tuesday, March 20, 7 p.m.
Flyleaf Books, Chapel Hill
The Chapel Hill/Carrboro branch of the NAACP has adopted the Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass as a book read. Flyleaf Books of Chapel Hill will host a reading and facilitated discussion open to the public.
