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Part 1: A Beggar Upon Horseback: The Context, From Frederick Douglass to Today
Part 2: A Beggar on Foot: Creating Change in Irish Arts
ABOUT THIS EVENT:
Hurray for revolution and more canon shot!
A beggar upon horseback lashs a beggar on foot
Hurray for revolution and canon come again,
The beggars have changed places but the lash goes on
– WB Yeats
Part 1: A Beggar Upon Horseback: The Context, From Frederick Douglass to Today
Featuring a dramatic reading by John Douglas Thompson of Frederick Douglass’s “Letter from Belfast”
On November 9, 2020, Irish Repertory Theatre marked the 175th anniversary of Frederick Douglass’s historic trip to Ireland with a dramatic reading by award-winning actor John Douglas Thompson of Douglass’s Letter from Belfast, written on January 1, 1846. In this letter, Douglass recounts his impressions of the Irish people, describing “warm and generous co-operation.”
The reading was followed by a panel led by Dr. Miriam Nyhan Grey in which scholars and writers of Irish-American and African-American history discussed the emigration of the Irish to America, and the complexity of Black and Irish interactions in the American experience: sometimes as allies and sometimes as aggressors. This conversation spanned the infamous Draft Riots of 1863 to Irish-America as we know it today.
A Beggar Upon Horseback: The Context, From Frederick Douglass to Today, was introduced by Consul General of Ireland, Ciarán Madden, and featured a dramatic reading by John Douglas Thompson (The Emperor Jones) of Frederick Douglass’s “Letter from Belfast” followed by a panel led by Dr. Miriam Nyhan Grey featuring Professor Westenley Alcenat and Peter Quinn. This conversation explored the complexity of Black and Irish interactions in the American experience.
Part 2: A Beggar on Foot: Creating Change in Irish Arts
After exploring the complex intersections of Irish-American and African-American history on Day 1, the second day of discussion centered on the role of race in Irish arts and ended with a conversation on the role of Irish cultural institutions in the push for racial equity.
A Beggar on Foot: Creating Change in Irish Arts will feature speakers Carletta Downs (Origin Theatre Company), Grace Odumosu, Lenwood Sloan, Lisa Fane (Irish Rep), Rachael Gilkey (Irish Arts Center), George Heslin (New York Irish Center), Ellen McCourt (Irish Rep), and John Waters (Glucksman Ireland House NYU).
In lieu of payment to watch this event, Irish Repertory Theatre encourages all viewers to donate to the Equal Justice Initiative. Donate here.
