Our Composite Nation: Frederick Douglass’ America

A new continuing special display debuting on February 11, 2022, by the New-York Historical Society will bring Frederick Douglass' ideal of freedom, citizenship, and equal rights to life in time for Black History Month. A variety of artifacts and papers, such as images from the popular press of the day and scrapbooks of articles by or about Douglass put together by his sons, which also documented his work to usher in a more equal country, serve to demonstrate Douglass' vision. Visitors can also view a speech snippet by Frances Ellen Watkins Harper, who discusses the issue of female equality in line with Frederick Douglass' views on racial equality.

There are also political cartoons and a copy of an editorial by Douglass about Chinese immigrants' right to belong in the United States that was published in a Chinese American newspaper. A replica of the Douglass statue, which has been painted to look lifelike, welcomes guests to the Museum near the 77th Street entrance, as does the maquette of a statue of Douglass that was constructed on the campus of the University of Maryland in 2015 and was a gift to the late Congressman John Lewis.

The exhibit is based on Frederick Douglass' "Composite Nation" speech, which he gave in various parts of the nation in the years after the Civil War and in which he stated that the goal of the country was to provide the world "a composite, complete example of the unity of the human family". "Our Composite Nation: Frederick Douglass’ America" is definitely one of the best museum exhibitions in NYC.

Address:New-York Historical Society Manhattan, NY170 Central Park West New York 10024

Website: www.nyhistory.org/

Price:$22