Frederick Douglass Day Talk

The Ulster American Folk Park opened in 1976, and tells the story of emigration from Ulster to America in the 18th and 19th centuries, using objects and buildings to reflect experiences in both places. We have been working to incorporate marginalised histories into the narrative at the Folk Park. This includes bringing to the fore the stories of Indigenous Peoples, many of whom suffered greatly as a result of colonisation, as well as enslaved Africans who were exploited by some of the Ulster emigrants whose stories we profile.

Frederick Douglass Day is celebrated annually on the 14th February, a date chosen by Douglass to be his birthday. Douglass was born into slavery in 1818 and never knew his real birth date. He went on to become one of America’s great abolitionists, writers and leader of the movement for African-American civil rights in the 19th century.

To mark the occasion, join Liam Corry, Curator of Emigration, for an informal talk looking at Douglass’s life and Ulster’s links with Douglass and slavery in the United States.

What to know

• All events are charged at general admission cost, and include entry to the Folk Park for the whole day.
• This event is suitable for 12 years +. 
• All under 16-year-olds should be supervised by an adult.