Events
Frederick Douglass Day 2024
Saturday, September 28, 2024
Open the Frederick Douglass Day 2024 program book. Follow our Facebook page for updates.
Frederick Douglass Day activities are free and open to the public.
Parade – 10am
Street Parade (Glenwood Avenue to the Talbot County Court House, Washington Street) was led by the Parade’s Grand Marshall Walter Black and Honorary Grand Marshalls – the family of Frederick Douglass Founding Member Eric Lowery.
Welcome Ceremony – 10:30am
Welcome Ceremony on the front lawn of the Talbot County Court House featuring:
Gabriella Thompson – Mistress of Ceremonies
Invocation by Reverend Elmer Neal Davis, Jr., District Superintendent for United Methodist Churches in Caroline, Cecil, Dorchester, Kent and Queen Anne’s Counties, and member of the Easton Town Council
Pledge of Allegiance led by BAAM (Building African American Minds)
Music Provided by Easton Middle School, Easton High School, Melissa Wise,
Ian Young and Randy Welch
Frederick Douglass Recitation by Devon Beck, Facilitator of Recruitment, Recreation & Diversity, Talbot County Public Schools
Speakers: Edward (Boots) Robinson, Vice-President – Frederick Douglass Honor Society,
DeLeon Foster – Rutgers University Student
Chuck Callahan and Pete Lesher – Talbot County Council
Don Abbatiello – Easton Town Council
Sharon Pepukayi – Ed.D., Superintendent – Talbot County Public Schools
Dana Newman – Director – Talbot County Free Library
Children’s Village – 11:30 am to 3pm
The Children’s Village located on the front lawn of the Talbot Free Library featured face paintings, games, mapping, readings by Shauna Beulah and author Timothy Young, free Frederick Douglass coloring books, free Baltimore Ravens wristbands and much more.
Marketplace – 11:30am to 3pm
Our Frederick Douglass Marketplace featured local and regional food vendors, a variety of artisans and not for profit organizations.
Located at Dover and West Streets across from the Talbot County Free Library.
Frederick Douglass Geocaching – 12 Noon
Pickup your passport with map and instructions at the Talbot County Free Library and explore the Frederick Douglass Geocaching Trail created by Autumn Redman and Girl Scouts #1308. Learn about his life in Talbot County and collect a commemorative coin and photograph at the end of the trail.
Entertainment Stage – 12:30 Noon to 3 pm
Live Entertainment featured DeLeon Foster, Melissa Wise, Ian Young, Stefany Sophia Fernandez, Isaiah Robinson, Baba Bomani,
Al Butler, and Mistress of Ceremonies Annie Mewborn
Frederick Douglass Lecture – 1 PM
Harvard Fellow Keidrick Roy, Ph.D., spoke in the Easton Branch of the Talbot County Free Library. Dr. Roy’s subject was his newest book,
“American Dark Age: Racial Feudalism and the Rise of Black Liberalism” (Princeton University Press, September 2024).
Following the lecture a Q& A session was moderated by Jaelon Moaney, Deputy Director – Starr Center for the
Study of the American Experience at Washington College.