♪ ♪ WHAT INSPIRED MY INITIAL CREATION OF NO COWARD'S IN OUR BAND WAS IN 2014, WE WERE IN THE MIDDLE OF CELEBRATING THE SESQUICENTENNIAL OF THE CIVIL WAR AND IN ATLANTA IN PARTICULAR, WE WERE IN MIDST OF CELEBRATING NOT ONLY THE SESQUICENTENNIAL OF THE CIVIL WAR IN GENERAL, BUT IN PARTICULAR, THE BATTLE OF ATLANTA WHICH STOOK PLACE IN 1864.

I WANTED TO CREATE SOMETHING.

I WANT THAT CREATED A BLACK HISTORY BUT NOT ONLY THE HISTORY BUT THE CULTURE, AND SO I FIRST LOOKED OVER THE YEARS, THE YEARS BEFORE AND BOTH DURING THE CIVIL WAR TO IDENTIFY A PERSON, SOMEBODY WHO EMBODIED SO MANY ELEMENTS THAT ARE KEY TO THE BLACK EXPERIENCE: RESISTANCE, PERSEVERANCE, INTELLECTUAL RIGOR, COMMUNITY SERVICE, ACTIVISM, PETITIONISM.

SO FOR ME THAT INDIVIDUAL WAS FREDERICK DOUGLASS.

TO TELL THE STORY, I WANTED TO USE CULTURE AND FOR BLACK PEOPLE SPIRITUALS, GOSPEL ARE CRITICAL ELEMENTS OF OUR SHARED CULTURE.

♪ WHEN MOSES... >> IN THE LATE 80s I LEARNED OF A GROUP OPERA EBONY AND HAD A C.D.

OF THEIR MUSIC THAT I HAD LISTENED TO MANY TIMES OVER THE YEARS AND I REALIZED I COULD TELL THE STORY OF FREDERICK DOUGLASS.

I THOUGHT TO MYSELF MANY OF THE SONGS ON THE C.D.

THAT I HAVE LENT THEMSELVES TO TELLING A STORY ABOUT FREDERICK DOUGLASS.

♪ JESUS, YOU'RE THE CENTER OF MY JOY ♪ ♪ ALL THAT'S GOOD AND PERFECT COMES FROM YOU ♪ ♪ YOU'RE THE SOURCE OF MY CONTENTMENT ♪ ♪ THE HOPE FOR ALL I DO ♪ JESUS, YOU'RE THE CENTER OF MY JOY ♪ ALL: ♪ JESUS, YOU'RE THE CENTER OF MY JOY ♪ ♪ ALL THAT'S GOOD AND PERFECT COMES FROM YOU ♪ ♪ YOU'RE THE SOURCE OF MY CONTENTMENT ♪ ♪ JESUS, YOU'RE THE CENTER OF ♪ WHEN I'VE LOST MY DIRECTION ♪ YOU'RE THE COMPASS FOR MY WAY ♪ YOU'RE THE FIRE WHEN NIGHTS ARE LONG AND COLD ♪ ♪ IN SADNESS, YOU ARE THE LAUGHTER ♪ ♪ THAT SHATTERS ALL MY FEARS ♪ WHEN I'M ALL ALONE, YOUR HAND ♪ JESUS, YOU'RE THE CENTER OF MY JOY ♪ ♪ ALL THAT'S GOOD AND PERFECT COMES FROM YOU ♪ ♪ YOU KNOW IT, YOU KNOW THAT ♪ YOU'RE THE SOURCE OF MY CONTENTMENT ♪ ♪ THE HOPE FOR ALL I DO ♪ JOY.♪ >> WOMAN: OH, FREEDOM!

♪ OH, FREEDOM.

♪ OH, FREEDOM!

♪ A LONG WAY FROM HOME.

A LONG WAY FROM HOME.

♪ >> WOMAN: ♪ SOMETIMES I FEEL LIKE A MOTHERLESS CHILD.

♪ ♪ SOMETIMES I FEEL LIKE A MOTHERLESS CHILD.

♪ ♪ SOMETIMES I FEEL LIKE A MOTHERLESS CHILD ♪ ♪ A LONG WAY FROM HOME.♪ >> ALL: ♪ CAN'T YOU HEAR, CAN'T YOU HEAR ♪ ♪ THOSE FREEDOM BELLS RINGING?

♪ CAN'T YOU HEAR, CAN'T YOU HEAR ♪ THOSE FREEDOM BELLS RINGING?

♪ CAN'T YOU HEAR, CAN'T YOU HEAR ♪ THOSE FREEDOM BELLS RINGING?

♪ SAYING I WANT MY FREEDOM?

AUTO ♪ OH, RIGHT NOW!

♪ ♪ HE HAD TO MOVE WHEN THE SPIRITS SAY MOVE.

♪ ♪ HE HAD TO MOVE WHEN THE SPIRITS SAY MOVE.♪ ♪ HE HAD TO MOVE WHEN THE SPIRITS SAY MOVE.♪ ♪ AND WHEN THE SPIRITS SAY MOVE, HE HAD TO MOVE ♪ ♪ OH LORD, HE HAD TO MOVE WHEN THE SPIRITS SAY MOVE.

♪ >>WOMAN AND PRIEST:♪ HE HAD TO GO WHEN THE SPIRITS SAY GO.

♪ HE HAD TO GO WHEN THE SPIRITS SAY GO.♪ ♪ AND WHEN THE SPIRITS SAY GO, HE HAD TO GO ♪ ♪ OH LORD, HE HAD TO GO WHEN THE SPIRITS SAY GO.

♪ >> WOMAN AND PRIEST: HE HAD TO DO WHAT THE SPIRITS SAY DO.

♪ HE HAD TO DO WHAT THE SPIRITS SAY DO.

♪ ♪ HE HAD TO DO WHAT THE SPIRITS SAY DO.

♪ ♪ HE HAD TO MOVE WHEN THE SPIRITS SAY MOVE.♪ >> FREDERICK DOUGLASS: THE DECADES LEADING UP TO THE NIGHT, APRIL 12, 1861, ON WHICH THAT FIRST FATEFUL SHOT WAS FIRED AT FORT SUMTER, PRESAGED MORE ABOUT THE FUTURE OF OUR GREAT NATION, INDEED MORE ABOUT THE COMPLICATED RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE RACES THAN THAT NIGHT-- OR THE FOUR-YEAR WAR FOR WHICH IT SERVED AS A CATALYST-COULD EVER TELL.

YOU SEE, SINCE THE VERY FOUNDING OF OUR NATION OUR FOREFATHERS AND FOREMOTHERS, AND THEIR DESCENDANTS, HAVE STRUGGLED, INWARDLY AND OTHERWISE, WITH THE IMPLICATIONS OF WHAT IT MEANS FOR ONE MAN TO ENSLAVE AND OWN ANOTHER.

WHY, NEARLY 130 YEARS AFTER THE FIRST ENSLAVED AFRICANS WERE BROUGHT TO THE JAMESTOWN, VIRGINIA COLONY, FRENCH MAN OF LETTERS AND POLITICAL PHILOSOPHER MONTESQUIEU OBSERVED, "IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR US TO SUPPOSE THESE CREATURES TO BE MEN, BECAUSE ALLOWING THEM TO BE MEN, A SUSPICION WOULD FOLLOW THAT WE OURSELVES ARE NOT CHRISTIAN."

WHAT WAS IT, THEN THAT PROPELLED THE NASCENT NATION FORWARD?

WHAT FIXED ITS SOCIAL, POLITICAL, AND ECONOMIC AND LEGISLATIVE STRUCTURE SO SECURELY TO A FOUNDATION OF BONDAGE AND VIOLENCE?

MY DEAR BRETHREN, I IMAGINE YOU KNOW THE ANSWERS TO THESE QUESTIONS.

THE ANSWERS ARE BURIED WITH THE MILLIONS OF NATIVE AMERICAN SOULS WHOSE MANY CULTURES HAVE ALL BUT BEEN LOST TO HISTORY-WIPED OUT, GONE.

THEY LIE DEEP WITHIN THE BLOOD-SOAKED SOIL OF THE ORIGINAL THIRTEEN COLONIES AND THE STATES AND TERRITORIES THAT GREW FROM THEM.

INDEED, THE ANSWERS ARE HERE WITH US NOW AS WE ENDEAVOR TO BRING DOWN THE TYRANNY OF SLAVERY AND THE EVIL IT VISITS UPON BOTH BLACK AND WHITE.

AND FOR SURE, I EMBODY BOTH THE ANSWER AND THE QUESTION.

♪ THERE IS A BALM IN GILEAD ♪ TO MAKE THE WOUNDED WHOLE.

♪ THERE IS A BALM IN GILEAD ♪ TO HEAL THE SIN SICK SOUL.

♪ SOMETIMES I FEEL DISCOURAGED ♪ AND THINK MY WORK'S IN VAIN ♪ BUT THEN THE HOLY SPIRIT ♪ REVIVES MY SOUL AGAIN.

♪ THERE IS A BALM IN GILEAD ♪ TO MAKE THE WOUNDED WHOLE.

♪ THERE IS A BALM IN GILEAD ♪ TO HEAL THE SIN SICK SOUL.

♪ IF YOU CANNOT PREACH LIKE PETER ♪ IF YOU CANNOT PRAY LIKE PAUL ♪ GO HOME AND TELL YOUR NEIGHBOR HE DIED TO SAVE US ALL.

♪ THERE IS A BALM IN GILEAD ♪ TO MAKE THE WOUNDED WHOLE.

♪ THERE IS A BALM IN GILEAD ♪ TO HEAL THE SIN SICK SOUL ♪ TO HEAL THE SIN SICK SOUL.

>> FREDERICK DOUGLASS: I SURMISE THE YEAR OF MY BIRTH TO BE 1817 OR 1818.

MY FATHER WAS A WHITE MAN, A SLAVE OWNER.

MY MOTHER, HIS ENSLAVED.

I KNOW NOTHING OF MY FATHER AND LITTLE OF MY MOTHER.

AND, THOUGH FEW IN NUMBER, THE GLIMPSES I HAD OF HER ARE MARKED INDELIBLY UPON MY MEMORY.

SHE WAS A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN, WELL PROPORTIONED WITH DARK, POLISHED SKIN.

HER VISITS WERE FULL OF RISK, PRECIOUS THOUGH THEY WERE.

SHE MADE THEM ON FOOT, AND UNDER COVER OF NIGHT AFTER THE DAY'S TASKS WERE OVER.

SHE WAS EVER MINDFUL OF NOT TARRYING TOO LONG, SO AS TO BE ABLE TO RESPOND TO THE EARLY MORNING CALL OF THE FIELD.

IT WAS GOD'S DIVINE ORDER THAT SHE DEPARTED THIS EARTH WHEN I WAS JUST A BOY, AND SHE IN HER YOUTH.

ENSLAVEMENT IS NOT MEANT FOR ONE SO FAIR.

I SHALL NEVER FORGET HER.

MY MATERNAL GRANDPARENTS, BETSEY AND ISAAC BAILEY, RAISED ME.

BOTH WERE ADVANCED IN AGE AND THEY LIVED IN A CABIN SEPARATE FROM THE QUARTERS-A STATION IN LIFE FEW SLAVES ENJOYED.

BOTH WERE HELD IN HIGH ESTEEM, BUT MY GRANDMOTHER PARTICULARLY SO.

SHE WAS A SKILLED FISHERWOMAN AND GARDENER.

SHE ALSO WAS A GOOD NURSE AND OFTEN SENT FOR IN ALL DIRECTIONS.

WERE IT NOT FOR THE LOVE I RECEIVED EARLY IN LIFE FROM MY GRANDPARENTS I MIGHT NOT HAVE SURVIVED CHILDHOOD.

I OBSERVED IN THEM CHARACTERS WROUGHT FROM THE STRONGEST METAL, SHAPED BY THE GENTLE AND HUMBLE HANDS OF GOD HIMSELF.

IT IS THEY IN ME THAT YOU SEE-AND I CONFESS THAT IN MOMENTS OF QUIET REFLECTION, I MISS THEM TERRIBLY.

♪ ♪ LIKE I NEVER BEEN BORN AGAIN.

>> PRIEST: ♪ SOMETIMES I FEEL LIKE I NEVER BEEN BORN AGAIN.

♪ SOMETIMES I FEEL LIKE ♪ I NEVER BEEN BORN AGAIN.

♪ SOMETIMES I FEEL LIKE I NEVER BEEN BORN AGAIN.

♪ SO I STAND AND FOLD MY ARMS ♪ AND I CRY, CRY, CRY.

♪ AND I STAND AND FOLD MY ARMS ♪ AND I CRY.

♪ SOMETIMES I FEEL LIKE ♪ I'M ON MY JOURNEY HOME.

♪ SOMETIMES I FEEL LIKE ♪ I'M ON MY JOURNEY HOME.

♪ SOMETIMES I FEEL LIKE ♪ I'M ON MY JOURNEY HOME.

♪ SO I STAND AND FOLD MY ARMS ♪ AND I CRY, CRY, CRY.

♪ AND I STAND AND FOLD MY ARMS ♪ AND I CRY.

>> FREDERICK DOUGLASS: I AM OFTEN ASKED BY THOSE WHO JOIN ME IN THE FIGHT FOR ABOLITION TO REFLECT ON THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF MY YOUTH AND HOW I CAME TO MAKE THE DECISION TO FLEE ENSLAVEMENT.

I TELL THEM IT WAS NO CHOICE AT ALL.

THAT KNOWLEDGE, THAT DETERMINATION, IF YOU WILL, WAS BORN WITHIN ME-MUCH AS THE FACULTY OF SPEECH IS IN AN INFANT.

A CHILD LISTENS TO THOSE AROUND HIM AND THEN MAKES ADVANTAGE OF ALL THAT WHICH IS CONTAINED WITHIN HIS ENVIRONMENT-THE NUANCES OF ADULT SPEECH, AND THE BODY SIGNALS ATTENDANT THEREOF.

THE CHILD THEN MAKES ATTEMPTS, FEEBLE ATTEMPTS, TO IMITATE THE SOUNDS, NONSENSICAL SOUNDS, PERHAPS, TO THE ADULT EAR.

YET, ONCE THAT CHILD'S VOCAL CORDS AND LUNGS ARE SUFFICIENTLY EXERCISED, THAT CHILD MAKES AN INTELLIGENT SOUND.

THAT CHILD SPEAKS.

SO IT WAS FOR ME.

I HAD MADE MANY ATTEMPTS TO ESCAPE BONDAGE, AND FAILED OFTEN.

YET, WHEN THE TIME WAS RIGHT, MY ABILITIES FULLY DEVELOPED, I TOOK MY FREEDOM AND LEFT-AND I'VE NOT LOOKED BACK SINCE.

YOU SEE, WE ALL COME INTO HUMAN EXISTENCE AS FREE BEINGS.

IT IS ONLY MAN'S IGNORANCE, PERHAPS HIS STUBBORN DISREGARD FOR THE NATURE OF THE DIVINE, THAT SEEKS TO BIND THAT WHICH IS BOUNDLESS.

THE DIVINE IN ME UNDERSTOOD THAT AND ONLY RECLAIMED THAT WHICH WAS GIVEN TO ME AT BIRTH.

>> PRIEST: ♪ CLIMBIN' HIGH MOUNTAINS ♪ TRYNA GET HOME.

♪ CLIMBIN' HIGH MOUNTAINS ♪ CLIMBIN' HIGH MOUNTAINS ♪ LOAD'S GETTING HEAVY ♪ TRYNA GET HOME.

♪ LOAD'S GETTING HEAVY ♪ LOAD'S GETTING HEAVY ♪ LOAD'S GETTING HEAVY ♪ TRYNA GET HOME.

♪ JESUS WILL HELP ME ♪ TRYNA GET HOME.

♪ JESUS WILL HELP ME ♪ JESUS WILL HELP ME ♪ JESUS WILL HELP ME ♪ TRYNA GET HOME.

♪ WADE IN DEEP WATER ♪ TRYNA GET HOME.

♪ WADE IN DEEP WATER ♪ WADE IN DEEP WATER ♪ WADE IN DEEP WATER ♪ TRYNA GET HOME.

HOME.♪ ♪ HOME.

HOME.♪ >> FREDERICK DOUGLASS: I WILL SAY THIS, HOWEVER.

MY EARLY STATION IN LIFE SERVED ME WELL.

I OBSERVED, FIRST HAND, THE VICISSITUDES AND HORRORS OF NEGRO ENSLAVEMENT.

I WATCHED AS MOTHERS WERE RIPPED FROM THEIR CHILDREN, DEVOTED HUSBANDS AND WIVES TORN FROM ONE ANOTHER-NEVER TO KNOW OF EACH OTHER AGAIN.

AND I LOOKED ON AS NEGRO MEN, WOMEN, AND CHILDREN WERE ABUSED IN WAYS NEVER CONSIDERED FOR EVEN THE LOWEST OF GOD'S CREATURES.

MY EYES AND EARS HAVE SEEN AND HEARD THINGS NO HUMAN BEING SHOULD EVER SEE OR HEAR-UNSPEAKABLE HORRORS THAT GATHER IN MY BOSOM AND, SEEKING THEIR EXIT, DRIVE ME ON MY LIFE-LONG WORK TO HELP TO FREE THE NEGRO.

I SHALL DRAW MY LAST BREATH FIGHTING FOR THIS CAUSE-AND INDEED FOR THE FREEDOMS AND RIGHTS OF ALL THOSE WHO ARE DOWNTRODDEN.

THIS IS MY SOUL'S DUTY.

GOD GUIDES MY FEET THUS.

>> WOMAN:♪ GUIDE MY FEET, OH LORD ♪ WHILE I RUN THIS RACE.

♪ GUIDE MY FEET, LORD ♪ WHILE I RUN THIS RACE.

♪ GUIDE MY FEET, LORD ♪ WHILE I RUN THIS RACE.

♪ FOR I DON'T WANT TO RUN THIS ♪ RACE IN VAIN.

♪ HOLD MY HAND, LORD ♪ WHILE I RUN THIS RACE.

♪ HOLD MY HAND, LORD ♪ WHILE I RUN THIS RACE.

♪ HOLD MY HAND, LORD ♪ WHILE I RUN THIS RACE.

♪ FOR I DON'T WANT TO RUN THIS ♪ RACE IN VAIN.

♪ STAND BY ME, LORD ♪ WHILE I RUN THIS RACE.

♪ STAND BY ME, LORD ♪ WHILE I RUN THIS RACE.

♪ STAND BY ME, LORD!

♪ WHILE I RUN THIS RACE.

♪ FOR I DON'T WANT TO RUN THIS ♪ RACE IN VAIN.

[HUMMING] ♪ OH, MY LORD ♪ GUIDE MY FEET, LORD ♪ WHILE I RUN THIS RACE.

♪ FOR I DON'T WANT TO RUN THIS ♪ RACE IN VAIN.♪ ♪ >> FREDERICK DOUGLASS: NOW, THE MATTER OF ENSLAVEMENT VERSUS ABOLITION IS NOT EASY.

NOR IS IT ENOUGH TO SAY THAT SLAVERY IS BAD AND ABOLITION IS GOOD; FOR THERE ARE ELEMENTS OF BOTH INTERTWINED IN EACH.

THERE ARE THOSE CAUGHT IN SLAVERY'S WEB WORKING QUIETLY, AND IN THEIR CLANDESTINE AND, PERHAPS LIMITED, WAY, AGAINST IT.

AND THERE ARE THOSE WORKING FOR THE CAUSE OF ABOLITION WHO, IN THE NAME OF CHRISTIANITY, DECRY THE PECULIAR INSTITUTION'S EVILS YET SECRETLY ABHOR THE VERY NOTION THAT A NEGRO BE HIS EQUAL.

I MUST NAVIGATE CAREFULLY BOTH THESE WORLDS AND SEEK THE COMPANY OF THOSE SYMPATHETIC ONLY TO MY DESIRES.

THE END OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY, SOME TWENTY-FIVE YEARS BEFORE MY BIRTH, BROUGHT WITH IT THE INVENTION OF THE COTTON GIN.

A MARVEL OF TECHNOLOGY, I SUPPOSE, THAT INCREASED BY FIFTY-FOLD THE AMOUNT OF COTTON THAT COULD BE PRODUCED IN ONE DAY.

WITH IT, THE DEMAND FOR NEGRO SLAVES SOARED AND TO PUSH TO FIND NEW LAND ON WHICH TO CULTIVATE THE CROP, MOVED THE BOUNDARIES OF THE COUNTRY FURTHER SOUTH AND WEST.

IMAGINE THIS, BY 1850 NEARLY FOUR MILLION BALES OF COTTON WERE PRODUCED ANNUALLY, UP FROM ONLY 600,000 IN 1820, SOME THIRTY YEARS EARLIER.

IRONICALLY, DURING THE SAME FIRST DECADES OF THE 1800S EVERY STATE NORTH OF THE OHIO RIVER AND THE MASON-DIXON LINE PASSED ANTISLAVERY LAWS AND CONSTITUTIONS, BY 1840 MOST NEGROS IN THE NORTH WERE FREE, AND IN SOME NORTHERN COURTS SLAVERY WAS BEING CHALLENGED SUCCESSFULLY.

I AM SURE THAT I DO NOT HAVE TO ILLUSTRATE FOR YOU THE GREAT TUG-OF-WAR THESE EVENTS WROUGHT UPON THE NATION.

TWO EVENTS, HOWEVER, STAND OUT TO MY MIND AS THE ONES THAT GAVE THE SOUTH A DECISIVE WIN IN THIS GREAT GAME OF WILLS, AND BROUGHT THE COUNTRY EVER CLOSER TO CIVIL WAR.

FIRST, ON SEPTEMBER 18, 1850, THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS PASSED THE FUGITIVE SLAVE ACT.

NOW, BY LAW, OFFICIALS AND FREE CITIZENS OF THE NORTH HAD TO RETURN RUNAWAY SLAVES, UPON CAPTURE, TO THEIR MASTERS.

SECOND, THE SUPREME COURT'S RULING IN THE DRED SCOTT CASE OF 1857 THAT NEGROS, WHETHER ENSLAVED OR FREE, COULD NOT BE CITIZENS OF THIS GREAT COUNTRY AND, AS SUCH, COULD NOT SUE IN FEDERAL COURT.

CHIEF JUSTICE ROGER B. TANEY ARGUED THAT THE FRAMERS OF THE CONSTITUTION VIEWED ALL BLACKS AS QUOTE, "BEINGS OF AN INFERIOR ORDER, AND ALTOGETHER UNFIT TO ASSOCIATE WITH THE WHITE RACE, EITHER IN SOCIAL OR POLITICAL RELATIONS, AND SO FAR INFERIOR THAT THE NEGRO HAD NO RIGHTS THAT THE WHITE MAN WAS BOUND TO RESPECT."

THESE BLOWS HIT HARD, AND SENT ME ROLLING IN A WORLD FAR LESS FRIENDLY THAN I HAD EARLIER SUPPOSED.

>> FARMER: ♪ I'M A ROLLIN' ♪ I'M A ROLLIN' ♪ I'M A ROLLIN' THROUGH AN ♪ UNFRIENDLY WORLD.

♪ I'M A ROLLIN' ♪ I'M A ROLLIN', THROUGH AN ♪ UNFRIENDLY WORLD.

♪ I'M A ROLLIN' ♪ I'M A ROLLIN' ♪ I'M A ROLLIN' THROUGH AN ♪ UNFRIENDLY WORLD.

♪ I'M A ROLLIN' ♪ I'M A ROLLIN' THROUGH AN ♪ UNFRIENDLY WORLD.

FARMER AND PRIEST: OH, BROTHERS, WON'T YOU HELP ME?

♪ OH, BROTHERS WON'T YOU HELP ME TO PRAY?

♪ OH, BROTHERS WON'T YOU HELP ME?

♪ WON'T YOU HELP ME IN THE SERVICE OF THE LORD?

♪ >> FARMER: ♪ I'M A ROLLIN' ♪ I'M A ROLLIN' ♪ I'M A ROLLIN' THROUGH AN UNFRIENDLY WORLD.

♪ I'M A ROLLIN' ♪ I'M A ROLLIN' THROUGH AN UNFRIENDLY WORLD.

♪ >> FARMER AND PRIEST:♪ OH, ♪ SISTERS, WON'T YOU HELP ME?

♪ OH, SISTERS WON'T YOU HELP ME TO PRAY?

♪ ♪ OH, SISTERS WON'T YOU HELP ME?

♪ WON'T YOU HELP ME IN THE SERVICE OF THE LORD?

♪ >> FARMER: I'M A ROLLIN' ♪ I'M A ROLLIN' UNFRIENDLY WORLD.♪ ♪ I'M A ROLLIN' ♪ I'M A ROLLIN' ♪ THROUGH AN UNFRIENDLY WORLD.♪ >> FREDERICK DOUGLASS: THE ELECTION OF PRESIDENT LINCOLN ON NOVEMBER 6, 1860 WAS, AS FAR AS I RECALL, THE FINAL BLOW AND THE IMMEDIATE CATALYST FOR THE CIVIL WAR.

THE SOCIAL, LEGISLATIVE, AND POLITICAL WRANGLINGS OF THE PROCEEDING DECADES PALED IN COMPARISON TO THE IMAGINED NATIONAL TRAGEDY MR. LINCOLN EMBODIED.

TO LAND AND SLAVE OWNERS IN THE SOUTH, WHISPERED QUIETLY AMONG MANY IN THE NORTH, THE ELECTION OF PRESIDENT LINCOLN PRESAGED THE COLLAPSE OF THE UNITED STATES ECONOMY-SO BUILT ON FREE SLAVE LABOR WAS THE COUNTRY.

ALMOST IMMEDIATELY, IN FEBRUARY, 1861, SEVEN SOUTHERN STATES WITHDREW FROM THE UNION AND CREATED THE CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA-- MR.. LINCOLN HAD NOT YET BEEN SWORN IN-THAT WOULD COME THE FOLLOWING MONTH, IN MARCH.

AND, ON APRIL 12, 1861, THE FIRST SHOT WAS FIRED ON FORT SUMTER.

LATER THAT MONTH, FOUR ADDITIONAL STATES WITHDREW FROM THE UNION AND JOINED THE CONFEDERACY-TURBULENT TIMES, INDEED.

AT THE WAR'S BEGINNING, MOST PEOPLE IN BOTH THE NORTH AND THE SOUTH BELIEVED IT WOULD BE SHORT-LIVED-LASTING, AT MOST, A FEW MONTHS.

NO ONE COULD HAVE IMAGINED THAT THE WAR WOULD RAGE ON FOR FOUR LONG YEARS AND NUMBER ITS DEAD IN THE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS.

FOR MY PART, I BEGAN MEETING WITH PRESIDENT LINCOLN ALMOST IMMEDIATELY.

I URGED HIM TO REDIRECT THE WAR'S MISSION TO THE ABOLITION OF SLAVERY, AS IT WAS WIDELY ACKNOWLEDGED TO HAVE BEEN THE DIRECT CAUSE OF THE CONFLICT.

AND AS SUCH, THE WAR'S GOAL SHOULD REFLECT THAT FACT.

AT FIRST, PRESIDENT LINCOLN AND I DID NOT SEE EYE TO EYE; BUT SOON, HIS HEART WOULD LEAD, AND HIS REASON WOULD FOLLOW.

♪ WHEN MOSES SMOTE THE WATER ♪ THE CHILDREN ALL CROSSED OVER.

♪ WHEN MOSES SMOTE THE WATER ♪ WE'LL ANCHOR BYE AND BYE.

♪ MY SHIP IS ON THE OCEAN ♪ WE'LL ANCHOR BYE AND BYE.

♪ FOR JESUS IS MY CAPTAIN.

♪ WE'LL ANCHOR BYE AND BYE.

♪ WHEN MOSES SMOTE THE WATER ♪ THE CHILDREN ALL CROSSED OVER.

♪ WHEN MOSES SMOTE THE WATER ♪ WE'LL ANCHOR BYE AND BYE.

>> ♪ ALL: STAND THE STORM, IT WON'T BE LONG ♪ WE'LL ANCHOR BYE AND BYE.

♪ STAND THE STORM, IT WON'T BE LONG ♪ WE'LL ANCHOR BYE AND BYE.

♪ STAND THE STORM, IT WON'T BE ♪ LONG ♪ WE'LL ANCHOR BYE AND BYE.

♪ STAND THE STORM, IT WON'T BE LONG ♪ WE'LL ANCHOR BYE AND BYE.

>> WOMAN: I'M SINGING FOR A CITY.

♪ ALL: ANCHOR BYE AND BYE.

♪ WOMAN: I'M SINGING FOR A CITY.

♪ ALL: ANCHOR BYE AND BYE.

♪ WOMAN: MY SHIP IS ON THE OCEAN.

♪ ALL: ANCHOR BYE AND BYE.

♪ WOMAN: MY SHIP IS ON THE OCEAN.

♪ ALL: ANCHOR BYE AND BYE.

♪ STAND THE STORM, IT WON'T BE LONG ♪ WE'LL ANCHOR BYE AND BYE.

♪ STAND THE STORM, IT WON'T BE LONG ♪ WE'LL ANCHOR BYE AND BYE.

♪ WOMAN: KING JESUS IS MY CAPTAIN.

♪ ALL: ANCHOR BYE AND BYE.

♪ WOMAN: KING JESUS IS MY CAPTAIN.

♪ ALL: ANCHOR BYE AND BYE.

♪ WOMAN: WE'RE LANDING IN THE KINGDOM.

♪ ALL: ANCHOR BYE AND BYE.

♪ WOMAN: WE'RE LANDING IN THE KINGDOM.

♪ ALL: ANCHOR BYE AND BYE.

♪ STAND THE STORM, IT WON'T BE ♪ LONG ♪ WE'LL ANCHOR BYE AND BYE.

♪ STAND THE STORM, IT WON'T BE ♪ LONG ♪ WE'LL ANCHOR BYE AND BYE.

STAND THE STORM, IT WON'T BE LONG ♪ WE'LL ANCHOR BYE AND BYE.

♪ STAND THE STORM, IT WON'T BE ♪ LONG ♪ WE'LL ANCHOR BYE AND BYE.

>> FREDERICK DOUGLASS: I WAS ALSO CAREFUL TO IMPRESS UPON MR. LINCOLN THE NEED TO ENLIST NEGROS IN THE WAR.

AFTER ALL, WHO BETTER TO STRIKE A HARDER BLOW AGAINST SLAVERY THAN ONE WHO IS ENSLAVED?

AGAIN, MR. LINCOLN TOOK TIME WITH HIS THOUGHTS, AS HE WAS HESITANT TO SUFFER THE REPROACH OF THOSE WHO WOULD FIGHT TO PRESERVE THE UNION BUT NOT TO LIBERATE THE SLAVE.

IT WAS A DELICATE DANCE ON A ROPE, INDEED.

HOWEVER, ON JANUARY 1, 1863, PRESIDENT LINCOLN ISSUED THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION-A DOCUMENT THAT, AT ONCE, ENABLED ENSLAVED MEN AND WOMEN TO STEAL THEIR OWN FREEDOM, AND ALLOWED NEGRO MEN TO JOIN THE UNION ARMY.

AND IN THIS EFFORT I PLAYED A SIGNIFICANT ROLE.

INDEED, MY RALLYING CRY, "MEN OF COLOR, TO ARMS!"

LIT THE PATH FOR SCORES OF NEGRO MEN TO THE REGIMENTS OF COLORED TROOPS-INCLUDING TWO OF MY OWN SONS.

CHARLES AND FREDERICK SERVED IN THE 54TH MASSACHUSETTS.

AND I ASSURE YOU, A FATHER MORE PROUD OF HIS SONS DID NOT EXIST ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTRY.

OH, GREAT DAY!

SONG 9 - GREAT DAY ♪ GREAT DAY ♪ GREAT DAY ♪ THE RIGHTEOUS MARCHING ♪ GREAT DAY ♪ GOD'S GONNA BUILD UP ZION'S ♪ WALLS ♪ GREAT DAY ♪ GREAT DAY ♪ THE RIGHTEOUS MARCHING ♪ GREAT DAY ♪ GOD'S GONNA BUILD UP ZION'S WALLS.

WOMAN: CHARIOT RODE ON MOUNTAIN TOP ♪ ALL: GOD'S GONNA BUILD UP ZION'S WALLS ♪ WOMAN: MY GOD SPOKE AND THE CHARIOT DID STOP ♪ ALL: GOD'S GONNA BUILD UP ZION'S WALLS ♪ GREAT DAY ♪ GREAT DAY ♪ THE RIGHTEOUS MARCHING ♪ GREAD DAY ♪ GOD'S GONNA BUILD UP ZION'S WALLS.

♪ PRIEST: THIS IS THE YEAR OF JUBILEE ♪ ALL: GOD'S GONNA BUILD UP ZION'S WALLS ♪ PRIEST: MY GOD DONE SET HIS PEOPLE FREE ♪ ALL: GOD'S GONNA BUILD UP ZION'S WALLS ♪ GREAT DAY ♪ GREAT DAY ♪ THE RIGHTEOUS MARCHING ♪ GREAT DAY ♪ GOD'S GONNA BUILD UP ZION'S WALLS ♪ WOMAN: GONNA TAKE MY BREASTPLATE, SWORD, AND SHIELD ♪ ALL: GOD'S GONNA BUILD UP ZION'S WALLS ♪ WOMAN: AND MARCH OUT BOLDLY IN THE FIELD ♪ ALL: GOD'S GONNA BUILD UP ♪ ZION'S WALLS ♪ GREAT DAY ♪ GREAT DAY ♪ THE RIGHTEOUS MARCHING ♪ GREAT DAY ♪ GOD'S GONNA BUILD UP ZION'S ♪ WALLS ♪ PRIEST: WE WANT NO COWARDS IN OUR BAND ♪ ALL: GOD'S GONNA BUILD UP ZION'S WALLS ♪ PRIEST: WE WANT ALL VALIANT ♪ WOMEN AND MEN ♪ ALL: GOD'S GONNA BUILD UP ZION'S WALLS ♪ GREAT DAY ♪ GREAT DAY ♪ THE RIGHTEOUS MARCHING ♪ GREAT DAY ♪ GOD'S GONNA BUILD UP ZION'S WALLS IT IS DIFFICULT TO DESCRIBE THE FEELINGS THAT DAME UPON ME AS THE WAR DREW TO A CLOSE.

TRUE ENOUGH THE UNION HAD BEEN PRESERVED AND SLAVERY HAD BEEN BLOWN A DEATH KNELL-FLAILING ABOUT AS A FISH IN A CATCHER'S NET-THE LAST BREATH IMMINENT.

THE END OF THE WAR BROUGHT NOT ONLY THESE JOYS BUT ALSO NUMEROUS TRAGEDIES.

THE DEAD NUMBERED IN THE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS, AND REPRESENTED A SUBSTANTIAL PERCENTAGE OF THE COUNTRY'S POPULATION.

THEN, AS IF TO COMPOUND THE NATION'S SUFFERING, OUR BELOVED PRESIDENT WAS ASSASSINATED IN COLD BLOOD ON APRIL 14, 1865.

I LEARNED OF HIS DEATH WHILE AT MY HOME IN ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

A HEAVY GLOOM GATHERED ABOUT ME AS I NOW TRIED TO UNDERSTAND THE NATURE OF REALITY AS IT MADE ITSELF MANIFEST.

ONLY ONE MONTH EARLIER, PRESIDENT LINCOLN HAD EVERY REASON TO BELIEVE THAT HIS SECOND TERM WOULD BE EASIER.

HE COULD PRESIDE, FINALLY, OVER THE UNITED STATES AND NOT THE DISUNITED STATES AS HE HAD DONE DURING HIS FIRST TERM-AND WITH GREAT SKILL AND CHARACTER I MIGHT ADD.

HIS HEAVY BURDEN HAD BEEN LIFTED; HIS YOKE MADE LIGHT.

THE FUTURE WAS SHINING BRIGHTLY, AND IT WAS HIS FOR THE MAKING-OR SO WE ALL THOUGHT.

♪ ♪ >> PRIEST: ♪ NOW WE TAKE THIS FEEBLE BODY ♪ AND WE CARRY IT TO THE GRAVE ♪ AND WE ALL LEAVE IT THERE ♪ HALLELUJAH ♪ AND A HALLELUJAH ♪ AND A HALLELUJAH ♪ AND WE ALL LEAVE IT THERE ♪ HALLELUJAH ♪ AND A HALLELUJAH ♪ AND A HALLELUJAH ♪ AND WE ALL LEAVE IT THERE ♪ HALLELUJAH ♪ NOW WE TAKE OUR DEAR OLD BROTHER ♪ AND WE CARRY HIM TO THE GRAVE ♪ AND WE ALL LEAVE HIM THERE ♪ HALLELUJAH ♪ AND A HALLELUJAH ♪ AND A HALLELUJAH ♪ AND WE ALL LEAVE HIM THERE ♪ HALLELUJAH ♪ AND A HALLELUJAH ♪ AND A HALLELUJAH ♪ AND WE ALL LEAVE HIM THERE ♪ HALLELUJAH ♪ NOW WE LIFT OUR MOURNFUL VOICES ♪ AS WE STAND AROUND THE GRAVE ♪ AND WE WEEP AS WE SING ♪ HALLELUJAH ♪ AND A HALLELUJAH ♪ AND A HALLELUJAH ♪ OH!

♪ AND WE WEEP AS WE SING ♪ HALLELUJAH >> FREDERICK DOUGLASS: THE END OF THE WAR, AND THE PRESIDENT'S DEATH, PRESENTED ME WITH PRESSING CONCERNS OF MY OWN.

ALL MY LIFE, IT SEEMED, HAD BEEN LIVED WITH THE SINGULAR DETERMINATION TO FREE FIRST MYSELF, AND THEN TO SECURE, IF POSSIBLE, THE FREEDOM OF ALL NEGROS.

EVERY WISP OF AIR I BREATHED WAS TAKEN TO ADVANCE THE CAUSE OF ABOLITION IN THE UNITED STATES.

MY EYES OPENED EVERY MORNING WITH ONLY ONE IMAGE IN SIGHT-FREE NEGRO MEN, WOMEN, AND CHILDREN.

FAMILIES ENJOYING THE FRUITS OF THEIR OWN LABOR-NO LONGER SUBJECT TO THE CAPRICES OR PREDILECTIONS OF A MASTER OR MISTRESS.

THAT IMAGE, THAT VISION OF LIFE FOR THE NEGRO INSPIRED ME WHEN I FELT I COULD NO LONGER GO ON.

WHEN HOPE ITSELF SEEMED FLUNG TO THE FAR CORNERS OF THE GLOBE.

INDEED, THE WAR'S END WAS BITTERSWEET-ITS VICTORY ALMOST HOLLOW, THE TRIUMPH TINGED WITH SORROW.

FOR WHAT NOW OF MY LIFE?

FOR WHAT DO I AWAKE EVERY MORNING?

WHAT FIRE NOW FUELS MY SOUL?

IT WAS A LONELY PLACE, INDEED, FOR I HAD NOT ANSWERS TO THESE QUESTIONS NOR TO THE MANY OTHERS THAT NOW HAUNTED MY DREAMS.

TO WHAT LABOR DO I NOW DIRECT MY ENERGIES?

NO LONGER COULD I GO TO THE WHARF FOR WORK, OR TO RICKETSON'S CANDLE AND WORKS.

I COULD NOT LOAD AND UNLOAD VESSELS AS I HAD DONE IN MY YOUTH; NOR SEEK WORK AS A SERVANT AS I HAD DONE WITH GOVERNOR CLIFFORD-ROLLING OILCASKS OR SHOVELING COAL AS I HAD DONE WHEN I FIRST STOLE MYSELF FROM SLAVERY.

I WAS NOW A MAN WITH A PUBLIC IMAGE, AND MY PRESENT LABORS MADE ME UNFIT FOR THE PURSUITS OF EARLIER YEARS.

THIS PUBLIC LIFE, HOWEVER, DID NOT PREPARE ME WELL FOR WORK OUTSIDE OF ITS BOUNDARIES.

UPON CAREFUL CONSIDERATION AND WITH THE GENTLE REASSURANCES OF FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES, I REALIZED THAT MY STANDING IN THE COUNTRY WAS MUCH GREATER THAN I SUPPOSED.

IN SHORT ORDER I BEGAN TO RECEIVE NUMEROUS INVITATIONS TO SPEAK AT LYCEUMS, COLLEGES, AND LITERARY SOCIETIES-AND FOR CONSIDERABLE SUMS OF MONEY, I MIGHT ADD.

IT WAS NOT UNCOMMON FOR OFFERS TO COME IN FOR ONE HUNDRED TO TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS FOR EACH LECTURE.

SOON, I FOUND MYSELF INVITED TO SPEAK AT EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS SUCH AS WESTERN RESERVE COLLEGE TO MAKE ITS COMMENCEMENT DAY ADDRESS.

SECRETLY, I WONDERED WHY THEY WOULD WANT SOMEONE LIKE ME-A FORMER SLAVE WHO NEVER STEPPED FOOT INSIDE OF A BUILDING DEDICATED SOLELY TO THE PURPOSE OF EDUCATION-TO ADDRESS AN AUDIENCE OF ESTEEMED SCHOLARS.

I FEARED FOR MY ABILITIES, BUT AGAIN, THE GENTLE COUNSEL OF LETTERED FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES ENCOURAGED AND MOVED ME STEADILY FORWARD IN MY NEW ENDEAVORS.

IT WASN'T LONG BEFORE THE "SCHOLAR BEE" WAS LODGED SECURELY IN MY BONNET-MY TONGUE A NEWLY CAST SWORD IN THE FIGHT FOR JUSTICE AND EQUALITY IN OTHER FORGOTTEN CORNERS OF THIS GREAT NATION.

THE CHARGE HAD BEEN MADE, THE PATH BRIGHT AS SUNLIGHT ON A NEW DAY.

MY LIFE HAD BEGUN ANEW, AND I WAS FEELING NO WAYS TIRED.

>> WOMAN:♪ I AM SINGING FOR A CITY ♪ HALLELUJAH ♪ I AM SINGING FOR A CITY ♪ HALLELUJAH ♪ FOR A CITY INTO THE KINGDOM ♪ HALLELUJAH ♪ FOR A CITY INTO THE KINGDOM ♪ HALLELUJAH >> PRIEST: ♪ THERE'S A BETTER DAY A-COMIN' ♪ HALLELUJAH ♪ THERE'S A BETTER DAY A-COMIN' ♪ HALLELUJAH ♪ WHEN I LEAVE THIS WORLD OF SORROW ♪ HALLELUJAH ♪ FOR TO JOIN THE HOLY NUMBER ♪ HALLELUJAH ♪ BOTH: I DON'T FEEL NO WAYS TIRED ♪ COME TOO FAR FROM WHERE I STARTED FROM >> WOMAN: ♪ NOBODY TOLD ME THE ROAD WOULD BE EASY >> PRIEST:♪ I DON'T BELIEVE HE ♪ BROUGHT ME THIS FAR TO LEAVE ME >> WOMAN:♪ OH, LORD, I DON'T FEEL NO WAYS TIRED ♪ CHILDREN OF GLORY ♪ HALLELUJAH ♪ FOR I HOPE TO SHOUT GLORY ♪ WHEN THIS WORLD IS ON FIRE ♪ OH GLORY HALLELUJAH >> PRIEST: ♪ OH LORD, I DON'T FEEL NO WAYS TIRED ♪ CHILDREN OF GLORY ♪ HALLELUJAH ♪ FOR I HOPE TO SHOUT GLORY ♪ WHEN THIS WORLD IS ON FIRE ♪ OH, GLORY HALLELUJAH ♪ I DON'T BELIEVE HE BROUGHT ME ♪ I DON'T BELIEVE HE BROUGHT ME THIS FAR >> WOMAN:♪ I CAN'T BELIEVE HE BROUGHT ME THIS FAR >> PRIEST:♪ I WON'T BELIEVE ♪ HE BROUGHT ME THIS FAR >> WOMAN: ♪ TO LEAVE >> BOTH: ME ♪ >> FREDERICK DOUGLASS: JUST OVER ONE MONTH BEFORE PRESIDENT LINCOLN'S DEATH, ON MARCH 3, 1865, HE SIGNED THE FREEDMAN'S BUREAU BILL.

THIS BILL ESTABLISHED THE BUREAU OF REFUGEES, FREEDMEN, AND ABANDONED LANDS.

PRESIDENT LINCOLN, AS WELL AS THE ABOLITIONIST COMMUNITY, WERE CONCERNED THAT WITHOUT THE PROTECTION OF FEDERAL TROOPS, SOUTHERN STATES WOULD NOT HONOR THE NORTH'S VICTORY.

FURTHERMORE, AFTER GENERATIONS, INDEED CENTURIES, OF ENSLAVEMENT, THE NEGRO WOULD NEED SOME GUIDANCE INSOFAR AS EDUCATION, HOUSING, AND CIVIC MATTERS WERE CONCERNED.

FREEDOM, THOUGH LONG SOUGHT FOR AND THEORETICALLY EASY TO UNDERSTAND, WAS FAR MORE DIFFICULT AS A PRACTICAL MATTER.

THE PRESIDENT'S INITIAL IDEA WAS THAT THIS ASSIMILATION INTO SOCIETY, OR RECONSTRUCTION, AS IT WOULD COME TO BE CALLED, WOULD TAKE ONLY THE BETTER PART OF A YEAR TO COMPLETE.

AND IT'S OFTEN BEEN MY BELIEF THAT THIS MAN'S ONLY TRUE WEAKNESS WAS HIS NAIVETE.

I WONDERED HOW HE COULD DOUBT THE SOUTH'S COMMITMENT TO VINDICATE ITS LOSS AND TO HURL THE NEGRO BACK INTO SLAVERY AT OPPORTUNITY'S FIRST CHANCE.

WE NOW KNOW THAT RECONSTRUCTION WOULD TAKE LONGER THAN ONE YEAR.

IN FACT, I SUSPECT THAT TRUE RECONSTRUCTION, THE GENUINE INTEGRATION OF THE NEGRO INTO THE GENERAL POPULATION, WILL NOT COME FOR GENERATIONS YET UNBORN-IF EVER.

I HAVE WITNESSED MYSELF, AND SEEN FIRSTHAND, THE WRATH OF WHITE SUPREMACY AGAINST SUBJECTS IT CONSIDERS INFERIOR.

AND I CANNOT IMAGINE THAT PARTICULAR BRAND OF POWER ABDICATING ITS THRONE WILLINGLY OR COMPLETELY.

♪ DO LORD ♪ DO LORD ♪ DO REMEMBER ME ♪ DO LORD ♪ DO LORD ♪ DO REMEMBER ME ♪ DO LORD ♪ DO LORD ♪ DO REMEMBER ME ♪ WAY BEYOND THE BLUE ♪ WHEN MY HEAD IS BOWED, LORD ♪ DO REMEMBER ME ♪ WHEN MY HEAD IS BOWED, LORD ♪ LORD, REMEMBER ME ♪ WHEN MY HEAD IS BOWED, LORD ♪ DO REMEMBER ME ♪ WAY BEYOND THE BLUE ♪ I WOKE UP THIS MORNING WITH MY MIND ♪ STAYED ON FREEDOM ♪ WOKE UP THIS MORNING WITH MY MIND ♪ STAYED ON FREEDOM ♪ WOKE UP THIS MORNING WITH MY MIND ♪ STAYED ON FREEDOM ♪ HALLELU ♪ HALLELU ♪ HALLELUJAH ♪ WALKIN' AND TALKIN' WITH MY MIND ♪ STAYED ON FREEDOM ♪ WELL, I'M WALKING AND TALKING WITH MY MIND ♪ STAYED ON FREEDOM WALKING AND TALKING WITH MY MIND ♪ STAYED ON FREEDOM ♪ HALLELU ♪ HALLELU ♪ HALLELUJAH ♪ DO LORD ♪ DO LORD ♪ DO REMEMBER ME DO LORD ♪ DO LORD ♪ DO REMEMBER ME ♪ DO LORD ♪ DO LORD ♪ DO REMEMBER ME ♪ WAY BEYOND THE BLUE ♪ ♪ >> FREDERICK DOUGLASS: ALAS, PROGRESS IS INDEED MADE.

THE NEGRO IS FREE, THE COUNTRY UNITED, AND THE STORM IS PASSING OVER.

THE WINTER OF MY LIFE IS UPON ME, AND THE GREAT VEIL PREPARES TO LOWER ITSELF OVER THIS FINAL ACT OF MY SOUL'S JOURNEY.

I AM GRATEFUL, INDEED, FOR THIS LIFE.

AND FOR THE LESSONS LEARNED ABOUT THE NATURE OF THE HUMAN SPIRIT.

IT IS, WITHOUT A DOUBT, INDOMITABLE, AND I AM HUMBLED BY THIS KNOWLEDGE.

I HAVE LEARNED THAT IN ALL PEOPLE LIE THE SEEDS OF GOOD AND EVIL.

ULTIMATELY, IT IS UP TO EACH PERSON TO DECIDE WHICH ONE HE WILL CHOOSE TO CULTIVATE.

I PRAY FOR OUR COUNTRY AND FOR ITS CITIZENS, THAT THERE ARE MORE SOWERS OF THE GOOD THAN THERE ARE OF THE EVIL.

I BID YOU FAREWELL.

♪ COURAGE, MY SOUL ♪ AND LET US JOURNEY ON ♪ THOUGH THE NIGHT IS DARK ♪ IT WON'T BE VERY LONG ♪ THANKS BE TO GOD ♪ THE MORNING LIGHT APPEARS ♪ THE STORM IS PASSING OVER ♪ HALLELUJAH ♪ HALLELU ♪ HALLELUJAH ♪ OH, THE STORM IS PASSING OVER ♪ HALLELUJAH ♪ THE DISTANT LIGHTS ARE DIM ♪ THE STARS HAVE DISAPPEARED ♪ MY SOUL IS FILLED WITH FEAR ♪ THE SEA IS BREAKING IN ♪ I HEAR THE MASTER CRY ♪ BE NOT AFRAID, TIS I ♪ AND THE STORM IS PASSING OVER HALLELUJAH ♪ HALLELU ♪ OH, THE STORM IS PASSING OVER ♪ AND A HALLELUJAH ♪ HALLELUJAH, LORD ♪ I BEEN DOWN INTO THE SEA ♪ ALL: HALLELUJAH ♪ AND A HALLELUJAH ♪ HALLELUJAH, LORD ♪ I BEEN DOWN INTO THE SEA ♪ HALLELUJAH ♪ AND A HALLELUJAH ♪ HALLELUJAH, LORD ♪ OH I BEEN TO THE SEA AND I BEEN DONE TRIED ♪ BEEN DOWN INTO THE SEA ♪ OH I BEEN TO THE SEA AND I'VE BEEN BAPTIZED ♪ BEEN DOWN INTO THE SEA ♪ HALLELUJAH ♪ AND A HALLELUJAH ♪ HALLELUJAH, LORD ♪ I BEEN DOWN INTO THE SEA ♪ OH CHRISTIANS, CAN'T YOU RISE AND TELL ♪ BEEN DOWN INTO THE SEA ♪ OF THE GLORIES OF EMMANUEL ♪ BEEN DOWN INTO THE SEA HALLELUJAH ♪ AND A HALLELUJAH ♪ HALLELUJAH, LORD ♪ I BEEN DOWN INTO THE SEA ♪ OH, YOU DON'T BELIEVE THAT I'VE BEEN REDEEMED ♪ ALL: BEEN DOWN INTO THE SEA ♪ JUST FOLLOW ME DOWN TO JORDAN STREET ♪ BEEN DOWN INTO THE SEA HALLELUJAH ♪ AND A HALLELUJAH ♪ HALLELUJAH, LORD ♪ OH I WENT TO THE VALLEY TO PRAY ONE DAY ♪ BEEN DOWN INTO THE SEA ♪ MY SOUL GOT HAPPY AND I STAYED ALL DAY ♪ BEEN DOWN INTO THE SEA ♪ HALLELUJAH ♪ AND A HALLELUJAH ♪ HALLELUJAH, LORD ♪ I BEEN DOWN INTO THE SEA ♪ HALLELUJAH ♪ AND A HALLELUJAH ♪ HALLELUJAH, LORD ♪ I BEEN DOWN INTO THE SEA ♪ ♪ ♪ HALLELUJAH, LORD ♪ I BEEN DOWN INTO THE SEA ♪ HALLELUJAH ♪ AND A HALLELUJAH ♪ HALLELUJAH, LORD ♪ I BEEN DOWN INTO THE SEA ♪ ♪ ♪ HALLELUJAH, LORD ♪ I BEEN DOWN INTO THE SEA ♪ BEEN DOWN INTO THE SEA ♪ OH I BEEN TO THE SEA AND I'VE BEEN BAPTIZED ♪ BEEN DOWN INTO THE SEA ♪ HALLELUJAH ♪ AND A HALLELUJAH ♪ HALLELUJAH, LORD ♪ I BEEN DOWN INTO THE SEA ♪ OH CHRISTIANS, CAN'T YOU RISE AND TELL ♪ BEEN DOWN INTO THE SEA ♪ OF THE GLORIES OF EMMANUEL ♪ BEEN DOWN INTO THE SEA HALLELUJAH ♪ AND A HALLELUJAH ♪ HALLELUJAH, LORD ♪ I BEEN DOWN INTO THE SEA ♪ OH, YOU DON'T BELIEVE THAT I'VE BEEN REDEEMED ♪ ALL: BEEN DOWN INTO THE SEA ♪ JUST FOLLOW ME DOWN TO JORDAN STREET ♪ BEEN DOWN INTO THE SEA ♪ HALLELUJAH ♪ AND A HALLELUJAH ♪ HALLELUJAH, LORD ♪ OH I WENT TO THE VALLEY TO PRAY ONE DAY ♪ BEEN DOWN INTO THE SEA ♪ OH I BEEN TO THE SEA AND I BEEN DONE TRIED ♪ BEEN DOWN INTO THE SEA ♪ AND A HALLELUJAH ♪ HALLELUJAH, LORD ♪ I BEEN DOWN INTO THE SEA ♪ HALLELUJAH ♪ AND A HALLELUJAH ♪ HALLELUJAH, LORD ♪ I BEEN DOWN INTO THE SEA ♪ ♪ >> I HAVE MANY THOUGHTS ABOUT THE RELEVANCE OF FREDERICK DOUGLASS' LIFE AND HIS WORKS IN OUR WORLD TODAY.

ON JULY 5, 1852, FREDERICK DOUGLASS DELIVERED A SPEECH TO THE ROCHESTER LADIES ANTISLAVERY SOCIETY IN ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

BUT THERE IS A QUOTE IN THAT SPEECH THAT CONTINUES TO RESONATE WITH ME.

AND FREDERICK DOUGLASS SAID IF WE HAVE TO DO WITH THE PAST ONLY THAT WE CAN MAKE IT USEFUL TO THE PRESENT AND TO THE FUTURE.

AND FOR MANY, THE SYMBOL OF ST. KOFA MAY BE A CYMBAL SYMBOL THAT REMINDS US WE HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE PAST SOMETIMES TO MAKE SENSE OF IT IN THE PRESENT AND TO BE ABLE TO PLAN FOR MORE PRODUCTIVE FUTURE.

>> OH GREAT DAY.

>> AND IT SEEMS LIKE WHERE WE ARE IN THE COUNTRY'S HISTORY, WE WOULD BE WELL SERVED TO GO BACK INTO OUR PAST AND PERHAPS FIND A WAY TO MAKE PEACE WITH IT, WHICH HAS NOT HAPPENED TO DATE.

AND SO IF WE COULD GO BACK TO OUR PAST AND TO BETTER UNDERSTAND IT, MAKE PEACE WITH IT, I BELIEVE THAT WOULD HELP US MAKE A BETTER FUTURE FOR US ALL AND THEN PROJECT INTO THE THE FUTURE AR A COUNTRY THAT IS STRONGER, PEOPLE THAT ARE INCLUDED AND BETTER TO LEAD A COUNTRY INTO THE YEARS AND DECADES AND HOPEFULLY THE CENTURIES THAT ARE TO COME.