Inaugural Frederick Douglass Lecture – SOLD OUT
The Inaugural Frederick Douglass Lecture, presented in a partnership between the Manchester Lit & Phil, The University of Manchester and CARISMA.
Martin Harris Centre for Music and Drama, Bridgeford Street, Manchester M13 9PL
Context
In 2021, the Manchester Literary & Philosophical Society (the Lit &Phil) commissioned independent research into Society members’ links with the transatlantic slave trade between 1780-1865. In response to the findings (published in 2023) and their wider present day societal implications, the Society committed to a series of actions to widen its reach and diversify its offering. One of those actions was to establish the Frederick Douglass Lecture series – to commemorate a leading, inspirational black abolitionist campaigner who, born into slavery, rose to become one of the leading social reformers of his time. He had close links to Manchester in the 1840s and to several prominent Lit & Phil abolitionist members. His contributions to political philosophy and human rights are enduring, not least in our continuing discussions today about racism, inequality and social justice. In honouring Douglass, we aim to recognise the complex and difficult legacies of the slave trade in British culture, celebrate those who fought against slavery and look forward, seeking ways to promote inclusivity, equality and respect for diversity within society at large.
“FREDERICK DOUGLASS – A GLOBAL LIFE“
Frederick Douglass was an international figure, not only because his writing took his words and his message across continents, but because he spent over 4 years of his life living travelling outside the United States. He first left the US in 1845 as a ‘fugitive slave’, travelling to Britain and Ireland to escape the possibility of recapture and re-enslavement. In 1859 he returned to Britain and on both trips gave powerful speeches against American slavery. In the 1880s, after the Civil War, Douglass again crossed the Atlantic to tour Europe and the Mediterranean and at the end of the same decade he lived and worked in the Republic of Haiti, as the US government’s Minister Resident and Consul General. It was during his four years outside the United States that Frederick Douglass became a free man. It was in Britain and Ireland that he developed as an orator and acquired the funds to start his first abolitionist newspaper – The North Star.
The 2026 Inaugural Frederick Douglass Lecture will be delivered by British Nigerian historian David Olusoga OBE, who is a BAFTA winning film-maker, author and Professor of Public History at The University of Manchester. Professor Olusoga explores how his time outside of the United States – in particular his years in England and Ireland – helped forge Frederick Douglass.
The event will be chaired by Professor Erinma Bell MBE.
An audience Q&A will follow the discussion.
David Olusoga OBE
David Olusoga OBE is a British Nigerian author, historian, presenter and BAFTA-winning film-maker. He is Professor of Public History at The University of Manchester and was awarded an OBE in 2019 for services to history and community integration. He specialises in the British Empire and how we experience its lasting effects in modern society. David has presented historical television programmes on the BBC. His television credits include Civilisations, Black and British, Our NHS: A Hidden History, A House Through Time and the BAFTA award-winning Britain’s Forgotten Slave Owners.
Professor Erinma Bell MBE DL
Professor Erinma Bell MBE DL is an Honorary Patron of the Lit & Phil and a Manchester-based academic and community peace practitioner with longstanding experience in conflict resolution, youth violence prevention, and community-centred social development. Professor Bell has contributed significantly to public dialogue on social justice, ethical leadership, and inclusive civic participation. Her involvement reflects the Series’ commitment to informed public engagement and to connecting historical enquiry with contemporary moral and social questions.
Creative Manchester
Creative Manchester is an interdisciplinary research platform based at The University of Manchester. The platform champions research in creativity and creative practice, bringing together research communities with external stakeholders to explore new research areas and address strategic opportunities. Please visit the website for more information Creative Manchester.
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The Manchester Literary & Philosophical Society
Founded in 1781, the Manchester Lit & Phil is the oldest scientific and literary society in the UK outside London. Established to promote the advancement of knowledge through discussion and lectures, today the Lit & Phil continues its tradition of public engagement by offering regular talks and events across science, technology, philosophy, and the arts, serving as a forum for intellectual exchange in Manchester and beyond. The 2023 research report was produced by the University of Central Lancashire’s Black Atlantic Research Institute and can be read, alongside Erinma Bell’s response, at: https://www.manlitphil.ac.uk/read-watch-listen/the-manchester-literary-philosophical-society-and-the-transatlantic-slave-trade-1780-1865/
CARISMA
CARISMA (Community Alliance for Renewal Inner South Manchester Area) is a Manchester-based programme working to build safer, more inclusive and cohesive communities. It supports children, young people, adults and families through peacebuilding, community leadership, hate crime awareness, and inclusive wellbeing programmes. Its founder and and director, Professor Erinma Bell, will chair this event.
Accessibility
If you have particular access or dietary needs, please let us know in advance by providing details when registering for your ticket or by emailing creative@manchester.ac.uk
