The Frederick Douglass in Coventry Project aims to raise awareness about Douglass and his relationship to the city. It seeks to support the Coventry and the surrounding Midlands learn about the ways in which they supported, and were shaped by, the Black Freedom Struggle and the long Civil Rights Movement. This website aims to provide a unique, in-depth resource for learners and educators of all ages looking to deepen their knowledge about the city, slavery, abolitionism, and the fight for freedom and equality.
The Frederick Douglass in Coventry Project began in 2020 with the release of Frederick Douglass and Malcolm X in the Midlands: 150 Years of Black Lives Matters in the Midlands. Since then, local residents, the press, and even Hollywood stars have begun looking into ways in which we can memorialise Douglass and his place in the city’s history. We are currently working with St. Mary’s Guild Hall, where Douglass delivered his final public lecture, to support their effort to recognise his part in that building’s history.
In the coming year, we intend to pursue the following:
- A short documentary about Douglass’s life and his time in the city.
- A campaign for a historical marker to recognise Douglass’s time in the city.
- A public awareness campaign to support further research and interest in his visit.
- The creation of resources that will support the memorialisation and celebration of other civil rights leaders and the roles they played across the Midlands.
You can get started with the project by watching the video that started it all – Frederick Douglass and Malcolm X in the Midlands: 150 Years of Black Lives Matter:
The Frederick Douglass in Coventry Project is directed by Darren R. Reid and Kristopher Lovell, with contributions from our colleagues at the School of Humanities and history students at Coventry University. We believe that by studying the past, we can shape the future – and there are few better examples for us to look to than that set by Douglass.