Celebrate Frederick Douglass Day, Feb. 14

Each February, the legacy of famed orator and activist Frederick Douglass is commemorated with a crowdsourcing transcription project digitizing the papers of significant African Americans. This year’s Douglass Day will focus on the papers of Mary Ann Shadd Cary(1823-1893), a newspaper publisher, lawyer, and educator in Canada and the United States.    

The Alexandria Campus Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee will host a NOVA Douglass Day Transcribe-a-thon and is looking for individuals and classes sections to participate in person and remotely. Taking part is as easy as logging in to the Douglass Day Web site and choosing a document      to transcribe; no special skills other than typing are needed. Participants will be rewarded with a Douglass Day sticker and at least Alexandria, a Douglass Day Cupcake.   

The activity easily fits into History, Writing, Literature and Sociology courses. But almost anyone can find connections and courses. “On the three occasions I have hosted Douglass Day events, I’ve seen how deeply participants get absorbed into the lives of the past. It is easy to get hooked on this type of activity,” says Susan Monroe, English Faculty at Alexandria.

For more information, contact Susan Monroe, Smonroe@nvcc.edu or Laura Garcia Moreyra, LGarciamoreyra@nvcc.edu.

Submitted by:
Susan Monroe, AL-English, SMonroe@nvcc.edu