Frederick Douglass Exhibit

Jack Higgins ‘25

Recently, the Chaminade High School Social Studies Department sponsored an exhibit on American revolutionary and abolitionist, Frederick Douglass. Located on the top floor of Chaminade’s Science Technology and Research Center, this exhibit displays information on a range of topics, from Douglass’s early life and education to his later life and his fight against Jim Crow Laws.

Born into slavery in February 1818, Frederick Douglass was one of the most iconic reformers in American history. Growing up in the South, he experienced all the brutalities of slavery, including separation from his family and harsh treatment by his captors. Famously, in 1838, he was able to escape slavery. Thereafter, he made many efforts to support and further the abolitionist cause, putting his formidable skills in rhetoric and public speaking to use in the service of the cause. Some of Douglass’s most famous works–including Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass and My Bondage, My Freedom–convey his ideas and experiences through biographical accounts of his life, while his collected speeches and letters reflect his efforts to abolish slavery and raise public consciousness about issues of racial injustice.

This exhibit provides students with a valuable source of information in their effort to better appreciate more about the impact Douglass’s work has had on American history. The exhibit gives students the opportunity to engage with the life of a man whose works left a great mark on American politics and values. Over the past weeks, many of the social studies classes at Chaminade, including my AP U.S History class, have been devoting time to visiting this exhibit. During this time, we visited all the exhibits and took notes on them for future instruction. The exhibits displayed included Douglass’s education and freedom, his fight against slavery, his involvement in the Civil War, his work on Reconstruction, late-19th century Jim Crow laws, and voting rights. Taken together, the exhibits provide a comprehensive overview of the life, work, and impact of this rightly celebrated American figure, showcasing the statesman’s lasting influence on American history.