Page 7 - Florida Sentinel 3-27-18

Local
Donald Dowridge Takes ‘Frederick Douglass’ To Alumni Of Howard University
Donald Dowridge with his Frederick Douglass display.
share in the area. He says, “If
BY GWEN HAYES Sentinel Editor
As America celebrated 200 years of the birth of for- mer slave, abolitionist, and statesman, “Frederick Douglass,” Tampa’s own Donald L. Dowridge, Jr., is celebrating a successful “9 years” of portraying Mr. Douglass.
Dowridge has won over the City of Tampa through the nine years of walking in this great forefather’s shoes. He has brought Mr. Douglass to life for many. He has trav- eled throughout America to sold-out and full auditoriums. He has told his story to news- papers, radio and T.V. over the span of the years.
During the month of Feb- ruary (BHM), Dowridge is always asked to present his character of Douglass. This year has been no different. A trip planned for late last month turned out to be more than he anticipated.
He was originally sched- uled to fly to Washington, D. C. to take part in the ASALAH Luncheon at the World Fa- mous Renaissance Hotel in downtown Washington, D. C. Theplanwastosetupasa vendor and sell his Number 1 Book, “The Power Of Being A Winner,” and to be in charac- ter as Frederick Douglass.
Dowridge received a call from the President of the Howard University Alumni Association in Washington, D. C., Ms. Hazel Robinson, to perform as Frederick Douglass on Monday, Feb- ruary 26th at the association meeting. He was asked to
bring all the Frederick Douglass pictures and dis- plays as well as the DLD prod- ucts.
At that point, he said the flight turned into a ‘well- worth-it’ road trip to the Maryland and Washington Metropolitan Mecca. He vis- ited many sites and attended several events while in the area.
As the guest of Ms. Robinson, Dowridge at- tended the Washington Wiz- ards-Charlotte Hornets game at the Capital Arena.
The ASALH Luncheon was a total success and gave him some networking time.
HeattendedaR&Bcon- cert with crooner Eddie Hol- man. He attended the box office smash, “The Black Pan- ther,” in 4-DX.
Dowridge also attended the Black Republican Trail- blazer Awards Luncheon. He met the Rev. Nelson, Founder of the Frederick Douglass Leadership Institute (Washington, D. C.), who had just done a speech on Mr. Douglass.
The alumni meeting was held in the Howard Univer- sity Alumni Building. Dowridge’s sister, Darlene Best, traveled from Balti- more to support him. F o r 45 minutes, the audience took in every single word of the performance.
Although in Washington, Dowridge did make it to Baltimore, his hometown, to visit family.
The highlight of his trip however, was the visit to The National Museum of African- American History & Culture.
Dowridge spoke to the Howard University Alumni As- sociation.
“I have never been to Africa in my sixty-one years of
you are there and hunger begins to strike, by all means visit one of the restaurants. The soul food is worth the price of your
Among other sites in the area, Dowridge visited the Carter G. Woodson Park.
life. Traveling through the museum was very thought- provoking, powerful, histori- cal, blackness, educational and knowledge awaiting the undertaking!, he said. “There is so much history in there!”
He has a wealth of knowl-
edge from the museum to
tummy!”
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