Actors Jonathan Majors, Denzel Whitaker, Jeffrey Wright, Colman Domingo and Nicole Beharie have signed on to perform in HBO’s upcoming documentary, Frederick Douglass: In Five Speeches. Throughout the film, the Hollywood stars will perform one of Douglass’ most well renowned speeches.
Majors, Whitaker, Wright, Domingo and Beharie will not be the only stars to appear in Frederick Douglass: In Five Speeches. Actor André Holland, poet Nzadi Keita and artist Bisa Butler will read excerpts of the activist’s work while providing historical context. Scholar Henry Louis Gates Jr is also working as an executive producer.
“After his escape from slavery at age 20, Frederick Douglass went on to become the most famous Black man in the nineteenth century, and he achieved that position based on the power of his words. Entirely self-taught, Douglass was a powerful writer and master orator, crafting speeches that called out American hypocrisy and challenged the nation to live up to its founding principles,” a press release from HBO reads.
“Frederick Douglass: In Five Speeches offers a new approach to understanding Douglass’ story, guided entirely by his own words about this country’s struggle for Black freedom and equality. Together with his autobiographies, the writings chart Douglass’ rise from a passionate young agitator to a composed statesman, and ultimately to a disenchanted but still hopeful older man. ”
Frederick Douglass: In Five Speeches is set to air on HBO on February 23, 2022.
