Abandoned Frederick Douglass Community Center on Alabama Avenue SE remains despite “New Ward 8”

WIlliam Alston-El stands by the abandoned Frederick Douglass Community Center on Alabama Avenue SE.

Douglass and Stanton Dwellings may be long gome but this relic of the past remains.

“This is shameful. Even in plain sight, hundreds of cars and people pass here every day, Fred is forgotten. They give out food in the back to people but don’t even have the decency to pick up their boxes. Well, nothing new. Oh, wait, it’s a new day in Ward 8. Haven’t you heard?” – William Alston-El, November 9, 2014

The legacy of John W. Blassingame has been all but forgotten.

William Calvin Chase of the Washington Bee writes to Frederick Douglass [Jan. 6, 1888]

Frederick Douglass Papers, Library of Congress

Immediately drop what you are doing and stop with the “No struggle, no progress,” cliched sloganeering of Frederick Douglass. Study Douglass. Research Douglass. Know who he ran with and knocked heads with. Stop disgracing his lived legacy by reducing his more than half-century worth of grinding to a singular expression much like Dr. King and “I have a Dream…”

Get up on game. Know the public and private battles of “Old Man Eloquent” and William Calvin Chase.

If I hear one more random person say, “As Frederick Douglass said, ‘If there is no struggle, there is no progress.'” I am going to get on my William Calvin Chase and downright act a dignified and intellectual fool up in the place.

SOURCE:

Frederick Douglass Papers, Manuscripts: 1888, Jan. – Feb., Image 5

Frederick Douglass Endorses The “National Leader” [NL, 19 Jan., 1889, 4]

Hon. Frederick Douglass Endorses The “National Leader.”

The Most Staunch Supporter of the Republican Party Now Published in This Country

Cedar Hill, Anacostia, D.C.

November 26, 1888

 

Magnes L. Robinson:

My Dear Sir: – I have read with interesting interest the editorials in the National Leader of late and have no hesitation in pronouncing the Leader as one of the most staunch supporters of the Republican party now published in this country. I do hope you will be able to keep your banner on the outer wall permanently. Do not let us clamor for office, but for rights.

Very Truly Yours,

Fred’K Douglass.