ON PREVIOUS DAYS:
- YESTERDAY:
America's First Bank Robbery - DAY BEFORE:
The Birth of Ladybird Books - DAY BEFORE THAT:
The Man Who Lived in the Airport - DAY BEFORE BEFORE THAT:
The Godfather of Graffiti
ON THIS DAY
Becoming Frederick Douglass
Posing as a sailor, with a borrowed ‘Protection Pass’ in his pocket, Frederick Douglass boarded a train from Baltimore to Philadelphia on 3rd September, 1838 – and escaped the slavery into which he had been born.
To formalise the process, he had to dodge slave-catchers, change his name and pay for his freedom. He then became an abolitionist, orator and public intellectual – and one of the most photographed men of the 19th century.
In this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly consider how Douglass’s story continues to challenge many of our preconceptions about slavery; explain how he used writing and public appearances to combat racism; and reveal how Douglass’ story has a surprising connection to, of all places, Northamptonshire…
Further Reading:
• ‘Frederick Douglass’ Incredible Legacy, Told by Laurence Fishburne’ (History at Home, 2020):
• ‘Frederick Douglass – Quotes, Narrative & Book’ (Biography, 2021): https://www.biography.com/activist/frederick-douglass
• ‘Douglass in England – Frederick Douglass in Britain and Ireland’: http://frederickdouglassinbritain.com/journey/FDEngland/
ON THIS DAY
Becoming Frederick Douglass
Posing as a sailor, with a borrowed ‘Protection Pass’ in his pocket, Frederick Douglass boarded a train from Baltimore to Philadelphia on 3rd September, 1838 – and escaped the slavery into which he had been born.
To formalise the process, he had to dodge slave-catchers, change his name and pay for his freedom. He then became an abolitionist, orator and public intellectual – and one of the most photographed men of the 19th century.
In this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly consider how Douglass’s story continues to challenge many of our preconceptions about slavery; explain how he used writing and public appearances to combat racism; and reveal how Douglass’ story has a surprising connection to, of all places, Northamptonshire…
Further Reading:
• ‘Frederick Douglass’ Incredible Legacy, Told by Laurence Fishburne’ (History at Home, 2020):
• ‘Frederick Douglass – Quotes, Narrative & Book’ (Biography, 2021): https://www.biography.com/activist/frederick-douglass
• ‘Douglass in England – Frederick Douglass in Britain and Ireland’: http://frederickdouglassinbritain.com/journey/FDEngland/
ON PREVIOUS DAYS:
- YESTERDAY:
America's First Bank Robbery - DAY BEFORE:
The Birth of Ladybird Books - DAY BEFORE THAT:
The Man Who Lived in the Airport - DAY BEFORE BEFORE THAT:
The Godfather of Graffiti
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OLLY MANN
Olly Mann made his name with another trivia-wielding podcast, Answer Me This! with Helen Zaltzman – and now presents The Modern Mann, The Week Unwrapped, and Four Thought for BBC Radio Four. He also has an A-Level in History, so Dan Snow beware.
REBECCA MESSINA
Rebecca got a passion for podcasting working at The Week magazine and a passion for trivia appearing on University Challenge in 2011, making The Retrospectors her natural home.
ARION MCNICOLL
Arion started out in satirical news in Australia, then moved to the UK to work for ostensibly serious publications including The Times, CNN, and The Week… before realising that since around 2016 the news has all been satire really.
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