top of page

The Frederick Douglass Speaking Tour 

 

Poet, Author and Spoken Word Performer Nathan M. Richardson captures completely the physical and spiritual essence of the great writer, orator and abolitionist Frederick Douglass.  The Frederick Douglass Speaking Tour offers a variety of programs to fit any Cultural Arts Center, Museum, Corporation, Organization or School. Give your students, patrons or employees the rare opportunity to experience living history and ask questions directly of an historical icon. Don't wait until Black History Month. Diversify your look into American History today.

Frederick Douglass (NMR) and Anna Murray Douglass (Valerie Davis) pose after performance in Yorktown
Frederick Douglass Live at protest in Lincoln Park in Washington, DC
Frederick Douglass (NMR) and Susan B. Anthony pose after Lets Have Tea performance in Suffolk, VA
Frederick Douglass Speaking Tour performance at Chesterfield County Library System

 ONE HOUR PROGRAM

 

1 hour presentation in which Frederick Douglass speaks for 20 minutes in vivid detail about his life as a slave, his escape to freedom and his rise as a great writer, orator and abolitionist. Mr. Douglass will recite brief 4 - 5  minute excerpts from any two of the following historic speeches; "What to the Slave is the 4th of July ",  "The Speech on the Dred Scott Decision", "Oration in Memory of Abraham Lincoln",  'Lecture on Haiti", "The Church and Prejudice", "Self Made Men" or "Women's Suffrage".  The program ends with an unscripted Q & A session between Mr. Douglass and the audience.

Frederick Douglass Speaking Tour at First Baptist Church Effingham Portsmouth, VA

Children's Program 

 

A 45 Minute presentation designed for students 4th grade - 12, in which Frederick Douglass speaks for 20 minutes about his life as a slave, his escape to freedom and his rise as a great writer, orator and abolitionist. Mr. Douglass will place a strong emphasis with students on reading and writing as well as developing a strong sense of civic responsibility and understanding the United States Constitution.  Mr. Douglass will recite an excerpt from his most famous speech - "What to the Slave is the 4th of July" followed by a 15 minute unscripted Q & A session between students and Mr. Douglass.  PROGRAM SUPPORTS the following COMMON CORE SUBJECTS: History, Social Studies (Civics), English and Reading. 

Frederick Douglass Speaks on Poetry

NEW PROGRAM!!!

FREDERICK DOUGLASS STANDS AMONGST THE LITERARY GIANTS

 

CALLING ALL POETS, WRITERS & LITERARY SCHOLARS - Join Nathan M. Richardson as Frederick Douglass for a in-depth look at the writings and oratory of Frederick Douglass. Experience this internationally acclaimed first person interpretation. Learn about the personal relationships between these literary giants and the influenced of their writings in shaping American Democracy; Douglass, Wittier, Longfellow, Twain, Emerson, Wheatley, Dunbar, Frances E. W. Harper, Harriet Beecher Stowe and others. An excellent experience for students and teachers of English and the literary arts. 

2022 Thumbnail.jpg

NEW PROGRAM!!!

 

THE ART OF HISTORICAL INTERPRETATION

 

 

Join Nathan M. Richardson, celebrated historical interpreter of Frederick Douglass for an dive into his critically acclaimed process. This workshop is for anyone interested in or currently engaged in first person historical interpretations and re-enactments of characters from any period. It offers best practices for research, development of historical characters and a deeper understanding of the business and marketing to clients interested in offering historical interpretations at schools, museums, private and corporate audiences. Excellent for all ages children and adults.

IMG - 1a1v.jpg

 

Woman's Rights/Suffrage Program

Frederick Douglass will give your audience a 15 minute synopsis of his life and accomplishments; followed by a (6 minute excerpt) recital of his 1888 speech to the International Council of Women in Washington, D.C. on "Woman Suffrage"; concluding the program with a 30 minute unscripted question and answer period with the audience about his working relationship and letters with such notable women as Harriet Beecher Stowe, Harriet Tubman, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony, Sojourner Truth, Victoria Woodhull and others.

Frederick Douglass and John Brown in CHambersburg, PA

FREDERICK DOUGLASS & JOHN BROWN (The Lion & the Leopard)

Part One: Each character speaks on their early lives and reasons they joined the fight for the abolition of slavery.

Part Two: Douglass & Brown jointly recall their significant Contributions to the cause of the abolition of slavery.

A. Their first meeting
B. Their collaboration on the raid of Harpers Ferry
C. Their last meeting (The Roll Call for the Raid)
D. Douglass recalls news of John Browns hanging. (((Douglass recites poem “The Portent" by Herman Melville)))


Part Three: Question/Answer Session

Charmaine Crowell features as Harriet Tubman
Valerie Davis features as Harriet Tubman
Janice Curtis Green features as Harriet Tubman

Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass

 

are the two preeminent Abolitionists in American history. Both born into slavery on Maryland’s Eastern. Both escaped their bondage. Douglass spent the first twenty years of his life as a slave, taught himself how to read and write, then became the most famous black man in the Western world. Tubman became the primary conductor of the Underground Railroad as well as nurse and spy during the Civil War and later an advocate of civil rights and woman suffrage.

 

Nathan M. Richardson as Frederick Douglass partners with three of the most talented interpreters of Harriet Tubman in the country. 

 

Yemima Davis  - Actor, Playwright, Storyteller and Historical Interpreter of the following ancestors; Harriet Tubman, Martha Ann Fields, Correta Scott King and Anna Murray Douglass.

Charmaine Crowell-White - is a native of Richmond, Virginia. She has is a living history interpreter. Her presentations celebrate the lives of Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth and Dolly Madison's personal servant. 

Janice Curtice Green - a Maryland Native, is an accomplished storyteller, an American Griot. She has been telling African, African
American and Multicultural stories for over 25 years. 

Eric Richardson features as Abraham Lincoln
Frederick Douglass defends the Emancipation Monument in Washington, DC

SELF-MADE MEN - A conversation with Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass​

Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln are the two preeminent self-made men in American history. Lincoln was born dirt-poor and became one of the nation’s greatest presidents. Douglass spent the first twenty years of his life as a slave and became the most famous black man in the Western world. Although these two men did not always see eye-to-eye, their relationship with each other developed and changed over the years as did the country’s debate over slavery abolition and emancipation. Nathan M. Richardson as Fredrick Douglass Eric Richardson as Abraham Lincoln bring these two historical characters to life, capturing completely their physical and spiritual essence.  Your audience will listen to and be invited to join the intellectual conversation with these great American heroes.

 

This three part, 60 - 90 minute performance is scripted as follows; Part #1 - a short first person narrative from each character, including the following speeches;  Douglass'  "Dred Scott / 1857" and Lincoln's "Peoria Speech / 1854" and a short excerpt from; Part #2 - a conversation between Lincoln & Douglass reflecting on their relationship involving abolition, meetings ending with Lincoln reading the "Emancipation Proclamation / 1863"   Part #3 - Lincoln and Douglass answer questions from the audience. Lincoln leaves stage after  15 Minute Q&A and Douglass recalls Lincolns assassination and ends the performance with the speech "Oration on the Memory of Lincoln

Tayla Lynn with Douglass at the Louisa CAC
Frederick Douglass with High School students at the Downing Gross CAC in Newport News, VA
Frederick Douglass poses with Teachers from the CNU Summer Teachers Program
bottom of page