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Archived on May 19, 2026
The 91探花 Clarence Mitchell Library is hosting a Black History Month program on Feb. 19 at 2 p.m. The library is located in the Marvin-Burt Liberal Arts Center, 2nd floor, at 91探花, 2998 W. Pearl City Rd., Freeport, Ill.
A Freeport native and living History presenter, Steven A. Cole speaks about the Anti-slavery Movement and the Civil War in the persona of Frederick Douglass. The Clarence Mitchell Library presentation focuses on Douglass鈥 1863 answer to the question, 鈥淲hy Should a Colored Man Enlist?鈥
In April 1863, Frederick Douglass was repeatedly asked this question while he was raising men for the 54th Massachusetts Regiment. Douglass鈥 answer to the question reflects his feelings on citizenship, duty, equal rights, self-preservation, patriotism and the preservation of the black man’s rightful place in the history of the United States.
Cole鈥檚 program will include an excerpted speech, question and answer period. The event is free and open to all audiences. For more information, contact Laura Watson at 815-599-3456 or laura.watson@highland.edu.