Free with Museum Admission

Join us for a screening and conversation with cast members from Becoming Frederick Douglass. Produced by Maryland Public Television in association with Firelight Films executive producers Oscar®-nominated Stanley Nelson (Attica, Freedom Riders, The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution) and Lynne Robinson, Becoming Frederick Douglass is the story of how a man born into slavery became one of the most prominent statesmen and influential voices for democracy in American history. Born in 1818 on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, he escaped from slavery in 1838 and went on to become the most well-known leader of the abolitionist movement. A gifted writer and powerful, charismatic orator, it is estimated that more Americans heard Douglass speak than any other 19th-century figure — Black or white. The documentary explores how Douglass controlled his own image and narrative, embracing photography as a tool for social justice, and the role he played in securing the right to freedom and democracy for African Americans.

The film was produced and directed by Stanley Nelson and Nicole London. Keith M. Brown and Michael English are the executives in charge of production. Becoming Frederick Douglass was written by Anne Seidlitz. Acclaimed actor Wendell Pierce is the voice of Frederick Douglass in the film. Funding for Becoming Frederick Douglass provided by the State of Maryland and Bowie State University, the oldest Historically Black College and University (HBCU) in Maryland.