Douglass Forgotten -- 13 February 2003

>> [CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION]
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>> Just ahead on "Need To Know" -- Frederick Douglass is a name
synonymous with civil rights.-
But the man who spent a quarter-century living in Rochester
isn't necessarily linked with our city.-
And Brenda Tremblay will give us a look at an artist who seeks
the soul of our community.-
And we'll have the "The Business Section with the Democrat and
Chronicle" coming up on "Need To Know."-
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>> Douglass is 25 years here in Rochester were at the peek of
his profession but, also, they were world-changing years.-
Captioned by the National-
Captioning Institute-
--www.ncicap.org-- -
>> Thank you for joining us.-
I'm Michael Caputo.-
Frederick Douglass moved to Rochester as a 29-year-old man who
had slipped the bonds of slavery a few years earlier.-
Te lived in the flower city for 25 years.-
During this time, his accomplishments were many -- he published
the weekly newspaper, "the north star," he attended the first
women's rights convention at Seneca Falls, he was chosen as a
vice-presidential candidate at the liberal party convention, he
wrote a second autobiography, he played host to John Brown as
brown developed plans for a slave revolt.-
He visited president clin continue to protest treatment of
black troops during the civil war.-
It's an endless list and probably why Rochester was the first
place to have an African-American monmumet honoring Douglass in
1898.-
Yet historians and African-American leaders here would agree
that Douglass hasn't been memorialized like he should have been
in Rochester.-
With more on this story is WXXI's Mark Giardina.-
Rochester has had a number of historic figures those
commemorated by permanent sites.-
The Eastman house represents George Eastman, the man who built
the company bearing his name.-
The Susan B. Anthony stands as testament to her work.-
Then there is Frederick Douglass, born a slave, escaped from
bondage.-
He spent 25 years of his adult Liv in Rochester working to free
other slaves.-
While here, Douglass wrote about the evils of slavery in his
newspaper, "the north star."-
Dr. David Anderson, who chairs the Rochester Monroe county
freedom trail commission said he helped slaves on the road to
freedom at cheal see's landing.-
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>> Douglass' 25 year here in Rochester were not just the peak
of his profession, but, also, they were world-changing years.-
Certainly, major changes in our government and in expression of
values that make up the American nation.-
They would occur while he's here.-
He's a major player in that, and the fact that we have so
little to physically represent him here is evident that we're
not doing as much as we could.-
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>> Pick up a tourist book on Rochester and you can easily find
the homes of George Eastman Ansu san B. Anthony.-
But what about Frederick Douglass?-
He lived on Alexander street and this is where his home was.-
Now a parking lot, paved over.-
Par of our history that has been forgotten.-
Anderson said Rochester has failed to highlight Douglass even
in tourism efforts.-
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>> Numbers of other communities -- Baltimore would be one, in
Massachusetts, another, and so on, are at least putting the
Douglass story into their tourism efforts with a good deal of
payoff.-
We're not doing that.-
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>> A few years ago, a Frederick Douglass museum and cultural
center appeared on the way.-
Xerox pledged $500,000 towards the center.-
City historian Ruth nabersack served on the committee that
included Maxine Childress brown.-
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>> Some of it was that the required annual report was not give
on the Xerox so they pulled back much of the money allocated
for that purpose, and I think that probably caused a lot of
people to feel a little burned, you know, there was a little
hotspot there.-
So, politically a lot of people didn't want to touch that whole
question.-
But the underlying current is that most of the people who were
involved in that are still interested in starting the Frederick
Douglass museum an in any way that they can help, they will, as
long as it can be nonpolitical, we think it won't really be
long before we can have a Frederick Douglass museum.-
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>> Now there are new efforts to honor Frederick Douglass.-
Rochester museum and science center will develop an exhibit
that focuses on his Rochester home and his domestic Liv.-
Efforts for a permanent Douglass center on king street in the
city.-
Anderson would like a learning center developed in the
community to produce a periodical that would show toug lass'
writings.-
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>> The opportunity is still here, but it's being -- no doubt
it's being watered down and other communities are taking
advantage of it.-
Cincinnati will be the site of a grand underground railroad
freedom center.-
Should have been here in Rochester because Rochester was a
major hub.-
Rochester was a gateway to Canada.-
Rochester had so much going on, and yet you don't celebrate
that.-
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>> During this year of Frederick Douglass, we have a number of
events that will delve into his life.-
Next month, the freedom trail commission will hole the men of
color to arms conference that will feature former Surgeon
General David Satcher.-
The University of Rochester will host the 2003 Frederick
Douglass conference which will focus on his life and his
works.-
Now let's continue with the business at hand by introducing our
guests, reverend Errol Hunt, pastor of memorial A.M.E. Zion
church in Rochester, and Errol Hunt, director of the Frederick
Douglass institute for African-American studies at the
University of Rochester.-
Thank you both for being here.-
Reverend hunt, I want to ask you right off the bat, the
"Democrat & Chronicle" reported on Sunday they're looking at
the king street site perhaps for a permanent home for Frederick
Douglass.-
Talk a little bit or as much as you can about it and where are
we?-
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>> There will be a press conference in revens to that and I
will just say that something will happen in this city that the
Frederick Douglass community development corporation will be
the persons who will funnel the dollars from a grant that will
be received for a Frederick Douglass center, if you will, a
resource center, Frederick Douglass "north star" education
site.-
Between those, I imagine m but something finally will be done
in this community that we will be responsible for along with
the community to make something finally happen for Frederick
Douglass.-
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>> It's got to be done.-
People hearing this should feel this is good news, done you
think?-
We've not had great news in the past.-
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>> We've had some exercise towards a final center.-
It's going to be realized one way or the other, but I just
would suggest that people would need to just watch and it's
coming.-
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>> Mr. Hudson, I want to ask you, you know, we've got right now
-- and it's sort of more of a general question than the one I
just asked, but we've got tough economic times, the state, the
county, everybody is cutting back on money.-
How do we appeal to people to donate to this?-
How do we appeal to governments to make this happen in such
tough economic times?-
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>> That's a tough question, but the news is very, very good
news, very encouraging.-
I think one of the things we need to do, as Dr. Anderson
pointed out, we have to let the community know how important
Douglass was, the greatest black abolitionist, politician,
intellectual in the 19th century, amazingly important man, not
only for Rochester but for the nation as a whole, and then to
transfer that to say, well, as important as he was, we need to
vote -- we need to recognize that now and take advantage of
that importance.-
And I think that is that link that David Anderson mentioned in
terms of tourism.-
We have such an important historical figure here that can be
hugely marketed, not something I'm personally happy with
talking in terms of dollars and cents, but we could let our
community know how important Douglass was as an historical
figure, and then we can begin to translate that into some real
sort of economic, financial, as well as intellectual and social
benefits for our community.-
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>> So much he did he did while he was living here.-
Do you think Rochester knows this?-
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>> Rochester knows it.-
And I'm talking about that Rochester that knows things, whether
it's the educational institutions, the governmental agencies,
foundations, what not.-
They know this because they just know it.-
But it's sin as to what has not happened in this city given the
importance of the man and what he's done.-
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>> Why?-
Why hasn't it happened?-
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>> I don't want to use terms that people get uptight about in
this issue.-
It's been a racial issue, partially.-
All that he has done, something should have been here a long
time ago.-
Susan B. Anthony is here.-
We're doing things there.-
And it should be done, but they both worked together, which is
rather interesting.-
They worked together years ago but nothing has happened for
Frederick Douglass but a statue, his gravesite, the church
where he was, in fact, buried, a pole.-
Those things are insignificant to lift up the name of the man.-
And as it's the community's fault, and people need to be
working together behind an organization who has finally come
across with a potential facility and, again, it's going to be
-- and those who want to help, they'll be able to help because
we cannot let this man's worth be forgotten.-
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>> This institute of African-Americans at the University of
Rochester, in cooperation with the Rochester and Monroe
commission and the men of color to arms are very much what we
like to think of as the high point of this year of Frederick
Douglass, 2003.-
One of the sessions which will be held on Friday at the
University of Rochester campus, on Friday afternoon, will
involve professor Bernhard demzar.-
He's told the county where Frederick Douglass and this boor
are, and his paper will be on this very issue looking at why
the county has not done, until the last two or three years, has
not really rk newsed -- recognized Douglass and his
contributions.-
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>> I want to ask it this way.-
If Frederick Douglass were a white man, would there have been
more done than -- -
>> I think this is the point I'm trying to make.-
The professor will point out in his paper the deliberate
opposition, and he will name names as far as the historical
society, the various other bodies in our corporate county that
are resisting the celebration of Douglass, his achievements,
his legacy until very recently.-
And that nexus between the historical figure and tourism that
is suddenly now, the last two or three years, allowed the
powers to be in the county to begin to recognize Douglass and
his achievements.-
So, I think that we need to do the same thing here.-
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>> Another thing, too, is the involvement of who in Douglass.-
Certain people want to control things and they ought not to be
allowed to do that in a negative way.-
There have been things done in a negative way in this instance,
in this community, going back three or four months.-
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>> What do you mean?-
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>> I'm not going to get specific until after we get this thing
settled.-
One thing up to do is to get what the man deserves here and not
cause more people to have animosities towards or even bring up
things that have happened even to me in working for this
effort.-
But that's irrelevant.-
Let's get Douglass planted, then in discussions and debate as
we're talking about even slavery, we talk about it after the
fact.-
Let's get the Douglass north star educational center here.-
Then we can talk about, as you'll get a paper about what's
happened, where he was born, in fact, where I was born,
Douglass left from Maryland to go to my hometown, New Bedford,
Massachusetts.-
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>> OK.-
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>> I went to the church named after him, didn't learn much
abhim until after I was an older person.-
Yet we have to do something.-
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>> Sometimes, though, isn't it good for the family and the
community of Rochester, I liken it to a family, get it out of
the way and get down to business?-
>> That'll be done.-
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>> How do you do it, though?-
You don't have to talk specifically, but in general terms, how
do you get it aside and get going to what needs to be done?-
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>> When the right opportunity arises, then you let it all hang
out there as to what has happened, what is happening, naming
names, if you will.-
That'll happen.-
That'll come, because that's history, an history ought to be
written down anyway, no matter what it is.-
That'll come out.-
The main thing, again, is to get a facility here for Douglass.-
That we might have conferences.-
I went to the conference that the department of the interior
sponsored in Washington, D.C.-
That should have been sponsored, in my opinion, because I'm,
you know, biased, in Rochester, given his years here.-
And he loved this place more than any other place in the
country.-
Better than New Bedford.-
But that where I learned of him.-
I followed him from there to here.-
It's ironic, but something will be done.-
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>> Black person, white person, Hispanic, anybody who's watching
this, we have about a minute left, what should they be thinking
about when they think about Frederick Douglass an what has not
been done and what should be done?-
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>> They should be thinking about making plans.-
The last weekend of march we have some of the best Douglass
scholars, nationally, internationally, will be coming to the
university of Rochester campus and at the four-point Sheraton,
two, 2 1/2 days, discussion about Douglass, what he did, why
Douglass did it and how that information now might be used to
actually help us to better understand the relationship between
Douglass' memories, his legacy, and today's community.-
So, what they need to do is think about march 27-29, Frederick
Douglass conference at the University of Rochester.-
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>> That conference and other things such as a place for him.-
They can help and they'll have the opportunity to help about
trying to leave a legacy.-
It'll be done with any person in this community, forgetting the
past.-
Let's get it done.-
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>> Get it done.-
Two conferences at the end of march.-
That's a start.-
We'll be waiting for a press conference.-
How long are we talking about?-
Couple weeks?-
Couple days?-
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>> Very, very soon.-
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>> Can't the ip you down on a time.-
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>> Very soon.-
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>> This discussion continues on our website, www.wxxi.org/ntk.-
For politics and government news, log on to
www.NYcitizens.org.-

NOW IT'S TIME FOR THIS WEEK'S
EDITION OF "THE BUSINESS
SECTION" WITH THE "THE DEMOCRAT AND CHRONICLE."

(Music)

with us is Ellen Rosen, editor of the "The Business Section
with the Democrat and Chronicle."-
Ellen, you know, it department go so well.-
-
>> High court ruled again that they did infringe on the
patents, and Bausch and Lomb isn't saying what they're going to
do, what their next step is.-
They issued a short release yesterday saying that they
acknowledge that the decision had been made and that peer
vision would be available once the patent in the United States
-- and once the patent expires, in 2005.-
It's not that simple because there are suits pending against
Bausch and Lomb for other patents relating to pure vision.-
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>> It doesn't mean anything for the employment to Rochester.-
We've already he felt fell it.-
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>> It doesn't, really, because they've been moving production
to Ireland, anyway.-
And they moved everything there.-
But it means revenue for the company.-
This is a $10 million to $20 million a year business.-
This is a key product in the company's future.-
Revenues last year were $1.8 billion or something like that,
but it's a disappointment.-
-
>> Rochester general hospital announced a profit.-
An this is a bit of a turnaround for them.-
What does it mean for them?-
-
>> Well, it's a shaky profit, actually.-
The hospital itself was profitable by about $4.3 million, I
think.-
The entire ViaHealth system was profitable by about $585,000.-
These are their projections, not their final numbers.-
Included in this the is payment of about $3.5 million they're
supposed to get from the state for medicaid for the benefits of
closing Genesee hospital.-
That's tied up right now because of the state budget crisis.-
If they don't get that, obviously the hospital's profit will be
lower and the system will be in the red.-
-
>> Do they look at it -- they were saying some bad years, some
bad years, at least, on the bottom line.-
They must at least see this as a positive.-
-
>> Sure.-
They've done a lot of pruning.-
They were putting a couple million dollars a month in the
Genesee.-
They've closed the hospital in Sodus.-
So, they're feeling -- but they're continuing to look at things
to cut.-
-
>> The downtown -- I want to bring it up this way, I guess, the
downtown revival going on, a couple projects over the past week
in the paper, all over the media, pointing to maybe a revival?-
-
>> Pointing to private developers getting interested in having
a hand in this, really.-
-
>> Yeah.-
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>> You talk about Larry glazier of Buckingham properties buying
the old I.B.M. building occupied by the west group.-
He plans to turn that into a classy space.-
It's raised on pillars.-
Then you have crystal development stepping forward to build
high-end apartments in the east end area.-
-
>> You going to be able to afford one of those condos?-
-
>> $300,000 to $600,000.-
You wonder who here will be able to afford them.-
But people say that's the beginning of what you need to
revitalize downtown project development and people living
downtown.-
Until people are living here there won't be the need for the
kind of services you need.-
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>> The east end has really seen some changes, some positive
changes.-
So much has happened there, the restaurant, the condos there.-
I think the town houses over there.-
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>> Mm-hmm.-
Yes.-
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>> Is it a model?-
Are people looking at that as a way of a model in Rochester to
sort of revive an area?-
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>> I think so.-
Itis always interesting to debate about how much responsibility
the government has and how much is up to private developers.-
In the east end, it was private developers.-
They built Chevy place, credit bill copper who has been a
leader in reing that area.-
The renovation of the old hallmark Chevrolet into something as
busy and vital as hot coffee is really enterprise and turning
things around.-
-
>> Real quickly, I just wanted to ask, I know your reporter,
Dave Thomas, talked about the worry of George Pataki in the
empire zone making some changes.-
What does it mean at this point for us?-
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>> Some folks are worried it would mean municipalities kicking
in more, and some are worried it could discourage some
companies that might want to come into the empire zone.-
Anybody that's already in it is exempt but it might affect the
ability to attract new business into the empire zone.-
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>> What's coming up this Sunday?-
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>> We're looking at the thriving and growing business of home
parties from plastic kitchen wear to cappedls to sex toys.-
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>> Really.-
OK.-
We'll have to buy the Sunday paper for hurt sure, then.-
Thanks, Ellen.-
Frederick Douglass, Garth Fagen, Mildred Johnson, these local
African-American icons have been the subjects of paintings by
art ar.-
His primary focus is capturing Rochester's community life.-
Brenda Tremblay has more.-
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>> When I was very young, I used to look at the clouds, and
probably a lot of people did this.-
You begin to fantasize, you see things and I became aware of,
you know, another kind of presence, you know.-
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>> Luvon Sheppard grew up gazing into the skies over Rochester
and he watched something else too, someone, that is, his
father, who Sheppard remembers once fashioned a lit p cap out
of a piece of canvas.-
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>> He took it and sewed it and everything.-
I watched his hands and I was very young when I saw this.-
And then he also used to draw profiles of a face.-
Of course I would try to copy and draw the profiles of the
faces.-
And from that, I started to work with my hands.-
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>> Eventually, he became a water colorist.-
The artist says he wanted to capture the colors of summertime
in western New York, and what he calls gravitational pull of
reflections in water and in glass.-
In 1986, he painted a Rochester street theme called "west main
lunch."-
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>> This was one of those images with the store front window and
so forth, you had the effect of people on the street but the
reflection of the people on the back standing there.-
As you looked through the reflections, you see all these
layers.-
If you look at my work, you see these multiple layers kinds of
things.-
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>> Like an ocean and the sky, for example.-
Professor Sheppard says he wants his paintings to make people
stop and think, to consider a vision of Rochester that's
beautiful, that's Pir chull, and shaped by forces far greater
than mere politics and the economy.-
Sort of superficial view of the city.-
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>> Lucy directs the Hartnett Gallery at the University of
Rochester.-
She says in a way, Luvon Sheppard keeps a risk by including
religious imagery in his work.-
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>> In the 21st century, it's definitely a risk with
spirituality in your work.-
But at the same time, it's something you have to do.-
You take that risk.-
I think it paid off.-
But that's part of what makes the art so attractive.-
It might not be for everyone, the spiritual dimension might be
offsetting to them.-
But the fact he does it and does it so boldly, it's a risk
worth taking.-
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>> A few years ago, I would say probably close to 20 years ago,
at my age I was trying to figure out the timing exactly, but I
began to really think about the work I was doing.-
I didn't know why I was creating the kind of imagery that I was
creating.-
I didn't understand it.-
I began to do some research.-
Anything, any symbols that I subconsciously found in my work, I
went to the library and researched what are clouds, what are
clouds used for, you know?-
And I found that in the biblical reference that clouds were a
symbol of the covenant, that god made with Noah.-
And he talked about the clouds and that there wouldn't be
flooding anymore, and, you know, he talked about this covenant
that was made.-
I said clouds.-
That's leading me right back to where I came from every time.-
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>> These days, Luvon Sheppard is working on a series of small
paintings he calls "psalms."-
They're scenes of Rochester familiar to us all.-
The painter hopes to help viewers appreciate the beauty of city
life as well as the beauty of the city's soul.-
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>> I think that the paintings for me, it's a gift.-
I work hard at it.-
I try to be good.-
But I also think that I was given a gift from my birth when I
was a created person.-