PRESENTING MR. FREDERICK DOUGLASS: “THE LESSON OF THE HOUR,” (Films for the Humanities & Sciences, $149.00).
Introduced by Bill Moyers, this video presents the recreation, by actor Fred Morsell, of the dramatic last speech given by abolitionist Frederick Douglass (1817-95), who devoted his life to the struggle against racial injustice. Morsell delivered the speech from the same pulpit–at the Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church in Washington, D.C.–occupied by Douglass at the time of the original oration in 1894. Moyers offers background information on the life of Douglass, a former slave who became the most influential black spokesman of his time and who called on Americans to “recognize the fact that the rights of the humblest citizens are as worthy of protection as those of the highest.” The video is available by calling 800-257-5126.