Frederick Douglass and the White Negro facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Frederick Douglass and the White Negro |
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| Directed by | John J. Doherty |
| Produced by | Catherine Lyons |
| Written by | John J. Doherty |
| Narrated by | John J. Doherty |
| Starring | Marcus Valentine Aaron Edo Fred Lawal Matilda Edo JohnLuka Doherty |
| Music by | Cyril Dunnion Gerard Meaney |
| Cinematography | Ronan Fox Martin Birney John J. Doherty |
| Editing by | Juris Eksts |
| Release date(s) | 2008 |
| Running time | 52 minutes |
| Country | Ireland |
| Language | English |
Frederick Douglass and the White Negro is a documentary film released in 2008. It tells the important story of Frederick Douglass. He was an amazing person who escaped slavery. He became a strong voice against slavery, known as an abolitionist. Douglass was also a talented writer and a politician. The film focuses on his journey to Ireland in the 1840s after escaping from America.
Contents
Frederick Douglass's Journey to Ireland
The film begins by showing Douglass's life as a young man in slavery. It then follows his escape and his journey to Ireland. In Ireland, he met and became friends with Daniel O'Connell. O'Connell was a famous Irish leader. Douglass traveled around Ireland, sharing his message against slavery. This was called abolition.
Douglass's Experience in Ireland
For the first time, white people treated Frederick Douglass as an equal. This was a new and powerful experience for him. His visit to Ireland happened at the same time as the Great Famine. This was a terrible time when many people in Ireland were starving.
Seeing Poverty in Ireland
Douglass saw white people in Ireland suffering greatly. He felt their situation was even worse than what many Black Americans faced back in the United States. This experience helped him understand poverty and suffering in a new way.
Return to America and New Challenges
The film then follows Douglass back to America. He was able to buy his freedom using money raised by supporters in Ireland and Britain. On his trip back, he shared the ship with many Irish people. They were also escaping the famine and coming to America for a new life. Millions of Irish immigrants arrived in the United States during this time.
Irish and African American Relations
These new Irish immigrants played a big part in American history. They were involved in events like the New York Draft Riot of 1863. Douglass was very sad about these events. The film explores the complex relationship between African Americans and Irish Americans. This was especially true during the American Civil War.
Shaping America's Future
The documentary looks at what brought these two groups together. It also shows what drove them apart. Experts, like Noel Ignatiev, who wrote How The Irish Became White, share their thoughts. This part of history helped shape America in the 1900s and beyond.
