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Diversity Dispatch: Frederick Douglass Fought to Integrate Rochester Public Schools


We all know that Frederick Douglass, the African-American abolitionist, lived and worked in Rochester in the 19th century, but did you know he directly affected education in Rochester during his time here?

After founding the North Star newspaper in Rochester in 1847, Douglass sent his children to Rochester public schools for several years until the Board of Education voted to exclude African-American students in 1850. “At the next meeting of the Board Mr. Douglass and some Anti-Slavery friends were present to debate the question why such distinction should be made”

(<https://womenshistory.about.com/library/etext/bl_rosetta_douglass_sprague_1902_essay.htm>).

Douglass spent years advocating for a reversal of the policy, which did not take place until 1857, when African-American students could again attend Rochester public schools (<https://www.math.buffalo.edu/~sww/0history/hwny-douglass-family.html>).

Douglass’ daughter Rosetta Douglass Sprague returned to Rochester in 1863 after her marriage. Almost 20 years later, a young woman, Florence Sprague, who may or may not have been her daughter and Douglass’ granddaughter, became one of the first two African-American teachers in the Rochester School District along with Viola VanBuren (<https://www.math.buffalo.edu/~sww/0history/hwny-douglass-family.html>).

Douglass left a legacy to Rochester in addition to the legacy he left the nation, both fitting to remember during Black History Month. For more information about Douglass’ years in Rochester, see the University of Rochester’s “The Rochester Years” online at <https://www.history.rochester.edu/class/douglass/part3.html> and the University of Buffalo’s “Timeline of Frederick Douglass and Family” at <https://www.math.buffalo.edu/~sww/0history/hwny-douglass-family.html>.

This is part of a monthly series of articles from the Diversity Council about topics related to diversity and multiculturalism.

Debbie Mohr
Diversity Council (ETS: Libraries)
02/17/2012