Frederick Douglass Reenactment by John H. Anderson

Thursday, February 8, 2024 from 7 to 9 PM
45 minute-1 hour presentation – Dressed in character

Join John H Anderson Jr., as he performs dressed in character of an American Social Reformer, Frederick Douglass. He will also have open discussions about the Civil War.

ABOUT THE CHARACTER, Frederick Douglass was an American social reformer, abolitionist, orator, writer, and statesman. He became the most important leader of the movement for African-American civil rights in the 19th century.

“My goal is to have everyone present feel enlightened and proud to be an American descendant of our United States history in general, regardless of which side our ancestors stood during our Civil War. I speak to all races, all ages and all cultural backgrounds with that simple goal in mind. And I am happy to say that I do achieve that goal most often, even addressing a current prospective and contemporary issues with race relations.” – Anderson

I have been for about 20 years a part of a reenactment troop led by my mother Mary J. Fears. My Mom had always been deeply troubled by the neglect and the profoundly false impressions most historians had given of the slaves and free persons of color regarding their direct participation in the development of our nation. We deliberately avoid relying on rhetoric about the already well known horrors of slavery, instead we set out to do research personally and present inspirational programs about the lives and unknown contributions of Americans of African descent from this era. I wanted to be Frederick Douglass!

In addition to being frequently invited to local civic programs during Black History Month, I have participated for 16 years at the Annual Battle of Olustee Festival, Olustee, Fla., for two years the main speaker at the annual Emancipation Day commemoration held at the historical Knott House Museum in Tallahassee Florida, for 5 years at the Annual Battle of Natural Bridge, Woodville Florida and the annual Ocali Days Festival, Silver River Museum, Ocala, Fla. I have also performed at Florida A M University in 2011 at the Black Archives and Research Museum, and for Leon County Fla. Commissioner Bill Proctor’s election party in 2010. I have been in several story telling programs with my parents and played a leading role in our documentary film Filling the Gap, written by my mother, Mary Fears.

The Tallahassee Democrat newspaper (Tallahassee Fla.) on Jan 30, 2011 published an article on my work. And more recently, in February 2016 that newspaper produced a video interview, available online, presented by USA Today.

In my real life, I was for 27 years an analytical chemist at a Florida state agency laboratory. I have a BS in Chemical Science and a BA in Music Therapy with a minor in Psychology, all from Florida State University. My hobbies and interests include musicianship, songwriting, antique automotive history/mechanics, social science and counseling. I grew up in Daytona Beach and currently reside in Tallahassee, Florida.

NON MEMBERS: $18 admission
MEMBERS: FREE – Please call 772-225-1961 to book your space. 
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