Not to be Denied

Powerful Idea

Now that the Douglass Museum is off and running, it has a long road ahead. And hopefully the community will encourage its success, including the cultural and corporate communities.

"The new home of the Frederick Douglass Museum indicates the educational value of a Douglass interpretive center in Rochester," stated Dr. Rollie Adams, president and CEO of the Strong Museum, Rochester's other 19th century museum. He said the Frederick Douglass Museum "suggests significant possibilities for collaborative efforts to develop a permanent facility."

Cognizant of the "possibilities" of the new museum," Childress Brown understands the weight of responsibility she has undertaken, and the powerful statement that the museum makes.

"This is something that will be an integral part of the community and we expect also of the country's museum force," she said. "It can shape and influence thinking, and can correct history where there is error. It can shape understanding of a past that has never been ours."

The Douglass Museum holds the promise of truly becoming a new voice of truth telling that speaks to future generations of a history that began with the Atlantic slave trade. Evidence of its impact in this way could be seen in the diverse audience of community leaders, families, baby boomers and young adults attending the April opening events.

"It's exciting," commented patron Myra Mack who had brought her daughter, Simone, 6, and son, Darryl, 9, to the opening. "I was determined to attend," she said, "and I plan to get my 13-year-old daughter, who could not be here, involved." Mack's son is already engaged in internalizing Douglass' story. As the family perused the Douglass timeline, Mack's son quickly shared what he knew about the abolitionist. That's the power of an idea.

But Childress Brown is not without her critics, internally and externally. In fact, just weeks before the grand opening, the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle ran a four-page investigative story dissecting the background of the Douglass Museum, and Childress Brown's management of the project. The piece revealed dissension in the ranks of the foundation's board, quoting members as saying they "often learned about foundation business in the newspaper."

The article also criticized the limited artifacts the museum owns, and went to great lengths to point out the museum's lack of connections by quoting Wyatt Houston of the Swann Galleries, which auctions important Douglass memorabilia. While saying he had never heard of the the Douglass Museum, Houston was quoted as stating, "It's amazing to me that the very seat, the very nucleus of Douglass' life and work hasn't had a museum devoted to him before this time."

The Future - Gaining Support

Despite this criticism or the excitement, the Interim Frederick Douglass Museum and Cultural Center has a challenging road ahead. The committee has put a $40 million price tag on the permanent structure. Xerox Corporation demonstrated its belief in the idea by pledging $500,000 to the project. And, according to one of its community relations staffers attending the opening, Xerox has recently been helping behind-the-scenes. "We hope more corporate sponsors will come aboard now that the ball has started rolling," she said.

Meanwhile, as the foundation board seeks the permanent location, a considerable amount of work lies ahead:

• Mounting a credible capital campaign for the funds needed to construct the permanent facility.
• Crystallizing the niche that will distinguish it among museums
• Attracting widespread community support, especially in the black community.
• Acquiring major artifacts to build a relevant collection that defines it as a true museum, and enables it to compete on equal footing with other institutions;
• Establishing and executing programming with wide appeal to enlighten and inform a diverse audience.

These initiatives represent a tall order, but one that is not impossible to fill. Childress Brown mused about her ideal museum: " I want the museum to say to every black boy and girl that 'all things are possible.' That scripture is so true. Here is a person (speaking of Douglass) who lived in chains, was expected to live a life of desperation, and ultimately he became one of the most important Americans in the world. It happened because Douglass yearned to be free. That's the theme of this museum."

As the grand opening ceremonies ended, a silent April snow fell on downtown Rochester, adding a fitting final act of purification and a gesture of future good fortune for the new Frederick Douglass Museum and Cultural Center.

The Frederick Douglass Museum and Cultural Center is located in Rochester, New York at 300 East Main Street, at the corner of East Main and Franklin streets, across from the Liberty Pole. As of May 1, 1999, the hours are Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, 12:00-5:00 PM; Friday, school and bus tours by appointment; and Saturday, 11:00 AM-4:00 PM. For additional information or to become a founding member, call 716-546-3960.