Take part in a free, family-friendly, and uplifting public celebration of Frederick Douglass.

This special event is cosponsored by departments and programs at the University of Rochester and the Rochester Institute of Technology and is a part of the bicentennial of the birth of Frederick Douglass, celebrated citywide in Rochester in 2018.

The program will feature a talk and book signing by renowned Yale historian David Blight, whose new and definitive biography, Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom, has just been released.

The evening will also include the performance of rare song in honor of Douglass’s life and legacy not heard in more than a century, and a few other surprises, including special guests and more. 

Community groups, church groups, and school groups are encouraged to attend, and free parking is available. This event’s focus on inclusion and equal communication and physical access will include ASL interpreters and a ramp entrance to the space. 

Though no printed ticket is required, attendees are asked to register for a seat via Eventbrite, so that organizers may track attendance. Seating is limited to 847 seats in the Hochstein Performance Hall.