Frederick Douglass Day
To continue promoting Douglass’ work, Celebrating the African Spirit hosts an annual Frederick Douglass Day event at College Hill Park to educate and encourage his abolitionist spirit through music, food, and uplifting community.
On August 2nd, 1858 the internationally known abolitionist Frederick Douglass, himself formerly enslaved, delivered a speech about U.S. politics to an audience of several thousand at Poughkeepsie’s College Hill Park.
The address recognized Emancipation Day, the date Great Britain abolished slavery—August 1, 1834—but at the time, millions of Blacks were still enslaved in the U.S. Frederick Douglass's 1858 speech in College Hill Park was a major historical event in Poughkeepsie, NY that contributed to the fight for the abolition of slavery.
For 4 consecutive years, CAS has commemorated this day in early August in its original location.
Frederick Douglass Day 2025
View the fourth annual Frederick Douglass Day, celebrating his life and contributions through performances by the Creative Percussion Ensemble, the Souls United Choir, and an Afro Hip Hop Fusion Dance Showcase.
Featuring CAS Summer Intensive Students
Students, ages 15-18, who participate in Celebrating the African Spirit's Summer Intensive present their passionate projects to the Poughkeepsie community on Frederick Douglass Day. Learn more about the summer intensive.
