Free Frederick Douglass Program

A free program on The Spirit of Frederick Douglass will be held Wednesday, Feb. 8, at 12 noon in the J. B. Sowards Theatre on ACTCs College Drive Campus.

Frederick Douglass was a former slave who became one of the great American anti-slavery leaders of the 1800s.

Self-taught, Douglass gained fame as a speaker and writer, began his own anti-slavery publications and became a 'conductor' on the Underground Railroad. In later years, he became a personal friend of Abraham Lincoln and helped persuade Lincoln to issue the Emancipation Proclamation.

Known as the Lion of Washington, Douglass is often described as the founder of the American civil rights movement. He also was a strong supporter of women's rights. He believed that what is possible for me is possible for you and believed in the power of words to bring about positive change in individuals and society.

Presenter Michael E. Crutcher, Sr. is an actor and scholar. A retiree from the US Army and former assistant professor at University of Kentuckys Lexington Community College, he has been in several television commercials, training videos and movies.

His interest in Frederick Douglass began when research into his family tree found connections between his family and the Douglass family. In his presentation, Crutcher demonstrates Douglass devotion to the principles of freedom, equality, religion and self-esteem.

For more information, contact Al Baker, ACTC Director of Cultural Diversity, 606-326-2422.