During the Civil War era and three years prior, there were TWO men with the same last name, although spelled differently, who became American icons when linked with a third. All three created pivotal moments that have resonated into the 21st Century.
The debates between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas are legendary. However, encounters between an abolitionist born in slavery and a president born in poverty, although lesser known, were perhaps even more important - not only in shaping the nation's understanding of the Civil War but eventually creating a path for the Civil Rights movement and subsequent judiciary rulings in the 20th Century.
This presentation is the story of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass - with two ss's…a shared story of courage, "humble origins, powerful ambitions, great minds, strong wills, and incomparable eloquence," both in writing and speaking. It's also a portrait of a conservative president who became more liberal and a radical who became more political. This is almost hidden history with extraordinary legal ramifications.
The Lincoln - Douglass Encounters is a fully costumed performance piece by professional living history re-enactors George Frein (Lincoln) and Charles Everett Pace* (Douglass). The centerpiece of the program revolves around three meetings between Lincoln and Douglass in the White House and was chosen as the keynote vignette prior to the final Obama-McCain Debate at Hofstra University in Long Island, New York.
Part of the university's "Democracy in Performance" series that week, the Frein/Pace ensemble piece dramatized these two historical figures to spotlight moments in the country's history that would lend context to the presidential debate scheduled for the following day. It was but one example of the duo's performing this 90-minute original theatrical in many venues across the United States for diverse audiences during the Lincoln Bi-Centennial Celebrations - 2008 through 2010.
The historically accurate performance includes excerpts from Lincoln's addresses and Douglass' speeches to create a background for their face-to-face meetings. (See attachment) Both men were great writers and orators which adds to the dramatic impact of their encounters. A staging in Cabe Hall in the Regional Arts Center will offer a more intimate setting, both for the presentation as well as audience interaction. Questions on how these meetings affected the judicial system are encouraged.
The Lincoln-Stephen Douglas debates were litmus tests on slavery.
The Lincoln-Frederick Douglass encounters were American democracy in action. The Frein/Pace performance is fascinating theatre.
SIDEBARS:
Abraham Lincoln's biography is an integral part all American history lessons. But who was Frederick Douglass??
• Born: Feb. 14, 1818, near Easton, MD; Died Feb. 20, 1895, in Washington, D.C.
• Taught himself to read at a young age when it was illegal for slaves to know how to read.
• Purchased a copy of "The Columbian Orator" at age 12 or 13, which was a popular schoolbook at the time. The book helped him understand the power of the spoken and written word.
• Escaped from slavery by impersonating a sailor at age 21.
• Became a lecturer for the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society in October 1841, which led him into public speaking and writing.
• Published his own newspaper: The North Star.
• Worked tirelessly throughout his life for equal rights and opportunities for all.
• Douglass was at first an outspoken critic of President Lincoln's conservative legal and political policies, then later greatly influenced the final stance on saving the Union. Consequently, Douglass became less strident under the influence of the more conservative Lincoln.
Douglass later served as the U.S. Marshal for the District of Columbia, recorder of deeds for Washington, D.C., and Minister-General to the Republic of Haiti.
Lincoln - Douglass Encounters set Thursday, March 11 • 7:00pm-8:30pm -- Light Refreshments • 6:30pm • CASUAL • FREE
A Special Occasional Thursday presented by TRAHC, the Texarkana Regional Arts & Humanities Council, Inc.
Sponsored in part by THE Texarkana Bar Association
WHERE: Regional Arts Center • 4th and Texas Blvd • Downtown Texarkana
TRAHC's OCCASIONAL THURSDAY:
March 11 • 7:00pm - 8:30pm • Regional Arts Center • Downtown
A FREE, informal evening for all ages to enjoy exhibits in the Galleries and a program related to a current RAC exhibit. Light refreshments at 6:30pm.
The Lincoln - Douglass Encounters enhances the ExhibitsUSA/ Mid-America Arts Alliance national tour of Lee and Grant, a National Endowment for the Humanities "On The Road" exhibit organized by the Virginia Historical Society of Richmond. At the Regional Arts Center through March 13.
Lee and Grant explores the lives of Robert E. Lee and Ulysses S. Grant, going beyond their reputations as Civil War figures.
Examining their personal worlds, side-by-side, the multi-dimensional exhibit shows how each was a product of his region and rearing, how their lives interconnected and converged, then how each man's image came to symbolize different things at different points in history (as did Lincoln/ Douglass). Through comparison, visitors can then evaluate the historical significance of these two famous Americans.
The exhibit itself consists of 45 objects including military equipment, tack, uniform items, engravings, books, coins, medals, political campaign items, stereo-view cards, commemorative and souvenir items, flags, contemporary materials, 30+ arts panels, electric map and video components, and four interactive DVD features.
Lee and Grant runs from January 16 through March 13, 2009 at the Regional Arts Center, 321 West Fourth at Texas Blvd. in Downtown Texarkana. Hours: 10am-4pm, Tuesday through Saturday with extended hours until 7:00pm on Thursdays. FREE
Additionally, in the Hall Galleries, enjoy CELEBRATION OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN INVENTIONS AND INVENTORS, hosted by TRAHC'S African-American Advisory Committee and curated by Treva West. This special collection highlights contributions to science, medicine, and the American household. An educational experience not seen in Texarkana until now. At the Regional Arts Center through March 6.
*NOTES ON CHARLES EVERETTE PACE - TEXARKANA RESIDENT: As noted in a Texarkana Gazette featured article by Aaron Brand, Pace is a globe-trotting Chautauqua scholar and former college teacher who "dons the roles of historic characters to give people in-person insights into personalities and historical significance."
The celebrations surrounding Abraham Lincoln's bicentennial have given Pace "fertile territory" to play the extremely important and colorful character of Frederick Douglass, either as a soloist or in duo with George Frein as planned for March 11th.
Although the well-known re-enactor has been doing a "Douglass as Abolitionist" for more than 30 years, he has created a new characterization that looks at the personal and political relationship between Douglass and Lincoln. This very interesting friendship sheds a fascinating light on many of their later objectives: Lincoln to save the Union and Douglass to become more politically astute.
Pace is a graduate of Dunbar High School, the University of Texas, and has an M.A. in American studies from Purdue University. He has performed and facilitated workshops across the U.S. and England, and conducted performance-based public diplomacy work for the U.S. Information Agency in nine countries including southern Africa.
Pace has been performing since 1972 as well as teaching leadership techniques, public speaking, and the Chautauqua approach to history. He returned to Texarkana several years ago to care for his ailing mother before her death. Fortunately for us, he stayed.
And as Pace continues to say, his work and great joy is "bringing history to life."
George Frein presents Abraham Lincoln, sixteenth president of the United States. Dr. Frein taught in the Philosophy and Religion Department at the University of North Dakota from 1968 to 1997. He was a performing scholar with the Great Plains Chautauqua Society from 1986 to 1997, portraying Father De Smet, Henry Adams, Herman Melville, and Mark Twain.. Upon his retirement in 1999 he helped establish a Chautauqua in Greenville, South Carolina and Asheville, North Carolina where he added to his cast of characters John Winthrop, John Adams, Dr. Seuss, Abraham Lincoln, and John James Audubon.
Support for Texarkana Regional Arts and Humanities Council, Inc. is provided, in part, by the Arkansas Arts Council, an Agency of the Department of Arkansas Heritage and the National Endowment for the Arts; the Texas Commission on the Arts; the National Endowment for the Arts, Mid-America Arts Alliance with generous underwriting by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Arkansas Arts Council, the Cities of Texarkana, Texas and Texarkana, Arkansas; Women for the Arts; TRAHC's African-American Advisory Committee, and the many generous individual and corporate TRAHC Members, Community Business Partners and program sponsors.