The life and work of famed social reformer Frederick Douglass will be celebrated with a day-long symposium honoring the 200th anniversary of his birth. The symposium will be held Friday, April 27, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Nicholson Library at Linfield College.
Douglass’s life, from his birth in slavery to his death as an internationally recognized statesman, embodies many of the core ideals and struggles of the United States. To celebrate and examine Douglass’s life, work and legacy, and how he continues to be relevant to today’s issues, the Frederick Douglass Forum on Law, Rights, and Justice at Linfield College will host an all-day symposium on campus with national experts and renowned writers.
“Douglass can speak to us across the expanse of time, but in order for that to happen, we need to reexamine and reflect on his answers to some enduring questions,” said Nick Buccola, symposium organizer and professor of political science at Linfield College. “This remarkable group of scholars will help us do that by presenting lectures on Douglass’s views of power, identity, freedom and statesmanship.”
Speakers include the National Book Award-winning author Ibram X. Kendi; David Blight, whose much-anticipated biography of Douglass will be published by Simon & Schuster in late 2018; Leigh Fought, who wrote the award-winning book “Women in the World of Frederick Douglass”; Melvin Rogers, scholar, editor and historian of African-American political thought; and noted author, professor and contributing editor to “The New Atlantis” magazine, Diana Schaub.
Each panelist will present as well as participate in question-and-answer sessions with the audience.
This event is free and open to the public. Douglass Forum activities are made possible by the generous support of the Elliot Alexander Fund for Political Science and the Jack Miller Center. For more information, contact Nick Buccola, professor of political science at Linfield College, at 503-883-2246.
