Congressional Gold Medal proposed for Frederick Douglass

EASTON — Congressman Glenn Ivey (D-Maryland) will introduce a bipartisan resolution to award the Congressional Gold Medal to Frederick Douglass.

The pending legislation was announced Wednesday at a historic home in southeast Washington, D.C., where Douglass once lived.

Easton resident and descendent of Douglass’ family Tarence Bailey Sr. attended, receiving a citation, commemorating the introduction of the legislation to honor Douglass with the nation’s second highest military honor.

Some past recipients include George Washington, Thomas Edison, Elie Wiesel, Jesse Owens, Mother Teresa, Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr.

The bill proposes “to award posthumously a Congressional Gold Medal to Frederick Douglass in recognition of his contributions to the cause of freedom, human rights and abolition of slavery in the United States.”

“Frederick Douglass dedicated his life to furthering the cause of freedom in the United States,” Ivey wrote in a press release. “Few Americans have shaped our nation so profoundly and permanently as Frederick Douglass did. To this very day, Douglass’ message and principles remain a guiding light for our country as we continue to seek fulfillment of our nation’s promise and potential for justice and equality.”

The bill calls for a gold medal to be struck and then donated to the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Bailey, fifth generation nephew of Frederick Douglass, handed the award back to Ivey’s representative at the conclusion of the Wednesday event.

“I said, ‘You are going to be in Easton on Saturday right? Why don’t you hold on to it and present it to Kevin (Green) on stage at the Avalon?’” Bailey said.

There will be a parade and several performances in Easton honoring Douglass on Saturday.

“Congress has never awarded Frederick Douglass anything or any type of acknowledgement of his work,” Bailey said. “We are making progress.”

Bailey’s advocacy was integral to getting the Gold Medal in motion.

Cassandra Van Hooser, executive director of Talbot County Economic Development and Tourism said, “Frederick Douglass deserves all the honor you can imagine. This is good for Talbot County, and it is good for the family and good for his legacy.”

Ivey was scheduled to meet with leaders Wednesday to discuss the impacts of Frederick Douglass. He was detained by a car crash, but was not injured.