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Escape To Freedom: A Play About Young Frederick Douglass
Born a slave, young Frederick Douglass endures many years of cruelty before escaping to the North to claim his freedom.
96 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1976
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About the author
Ossie Davis
47 books14 followersOssie Davis was born Raiford Chatman Davis, a son of Kince Charles Davis, a railway construction engineer, and his wife Laura Cooper. The name Ossie came from a county clerk who misheard his mother's pronunciation of his initials "R.C." when he was born. Following the wishes of his parents, he attended Howard University but dropped out in 1939 to fulfill his acting career in New York; he later attended Columbia University School of General Studies. His acting career, which spanned seven decades, began in 1939 with the Rose McClendon Players in Harlem. He made his film debut in 1950 in the Sidney Poitier film No Way Out. He voiced Anansi the spider on the PBS children's television series Sesame Street in its animation segments.
Davis experienced many of the same struggles that most African American actors of his generation underwent; he wanted to act but he did not want to play stereotypical subservient roles, such as a butler, that was the standard for black actors of his generation. Instead, he tried to follow the example of Sidney Poitier and play more distinguished characters. When he found it necessary to play a Pullman porter or a butler, he tried to inject the role with a certain degree of dignity.
In 2003, both Ossie Davis and his wife Ruby Dee starred and narrated in the HBO film Unchained Memories, a tribute to the WPA slave narratives.
Davis experienced many of the same struggles that most African American actors of his generation underwent; he wanted to act but he did not want to play stereotypical subservient roles, such as a butler, that was the standard for black actors of his generation. Instead, he tried to follow the example of Sidney Poitier and play more distinguished characters. When he found it necessary to play a Pullman porter or a butler, he tried to inject the role with a certain degree of dignity.
In 2003, both Ossie Davis and his wife Ruby Dee starred and narrated in the HBO film Unchained Memories, a tribute to the WPA slave narratives.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
December 11, 2013
A very short read at just 88 pages, this play by famous American actor/director/writer/civil rights activist Ossie Davis is a decent introduction to the life of Frederick Douglass for young students. It would definitely be a good thing to read as a class before introducing students to more complex texts like 'Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass'. But I must admit, even though Douglass is one of my most beloved historical figures/orators/African Americans, the play was a bit dull.
It focuses on Douglass' childhood up to the point in his young adult life where he escapes to freedom in the north (hence the title). It is filled with negro spirituals that intersperse the book, providing segues between scenes. In general, it is written on a fairly low-level (3rd grade?) so there shouldn't be too many issues with struggling readers.
In fact, the most poignant part of the book, and the message that all students can relate to, comes in Scene Two when Douglass' master catches his wife trying to teach Frederick to read. After putting an end to it and explaining to Fred why it would ruin him, the protagonists begins a soliloquy that reads, "I understood something that had been the greatest puzzle of all to me: the white man's power to enslave the black man. Keep the black man away from the books, keep us ignorant, and we would always be his slaves! From that moment on I understood the pathway from slavery to freedom. Come hell or high water--even if it cost me my life--I was determined to read."
It focuses on Douglass' childhood up to the point in his young adult life where he escapes to freedom in the north (hence the title). It is filled with negro spirituals that intersperse the book, providing segues between scenes. In general, it is written on a fairly low-level (3rd grade?) so there shouldn't be too many issues with struggling readers.
In fact, the most poignant part of the book, and the message that all students can relate to, comes in Scene Two when Douglass' master catches his wife trying to teach Frederick to read. After putting an end to it and explaining to Fred why it would ruin him, the protagonists begins a soliloquy that reads, "I understood something that had been the greatest puzzle of all to me: the white man's power to enslave the black man. Keep the black man away from the books, keep us ignorant, and we would always be his slaves! From that moment on I understood the pathway from slavery to freedom. Come hell or high water--even if it cost me my life--I was determined to read."
April 14, 2018
Escape to Freedom is a play about the young Fredrick Douglas and his literal escape to freedom. Fredrick Douglas was alive during the 1830's in the time of slavery in the United States. Fredrick was passed around from master to master as they all tried to break his strong spirit. However, none of them could succeed with the help of a few good men who taught him who to read and write. This play really gives insight on how African Americans were treated at that time. This play also shows the importance of education and standing up for yourself. This book could be read in a middle to high school level classroom to learn more about slavery and to put things in perspective, as it is a very beneficial book to read. Hard to read sometimes because of the cruelty, however, Fredrick remains strong and then goes on to become a free man. His perseverance is inspiring and pushes others to fight for what they want and stand up for what they believe in, despite the circumstances.
October 12, 2020
Ossie Davis gives a great story about the famous Frederick Douglas. This book talks about the Douglas’s life growing up and his escape from slavery to becoming a well known hero. This story will teach students about the history of slavery. This book is a Coretta Scott King award winning for authors. I think having this book read as a play in the classroom would not only be fun for the students to read, but it also has the students understanding the importance of understanding African American’s past. It provides diversity in the classroom as well.
July 13, 2020
A real rouser! Lots of action, with the climax echoing a children's picture book I read with a similar title, based on one of Douglass's autobiographical works. I really enjoy reading children's books on Black history, that cover similar topics; a true artist and storyteller can make the same story sound fresh and new.
January 3, 2021
I preferred learning about Douglass through Hand in Hand.
July 12, 2009
This is a short play of the early life of Frederick Douglas. I happened upon it while sorting books at the library and brought it home. It was a double bonus to read something of Ossie Davis'.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews