Seriously, I had planned to write an “If the Greats” blogpost about Frederick Douglass, in recognition of Black History Month.
In part because I recently read Colum McCann’s TransAtlantic
http://nyti.ms/2loGWP6, a literary achievement
that if tour de force weren’t overused to the point of meaninglessness, I would
hasten to call a tour de force. Truly a great book of imagined historical
fiction, whose central figure, the fictional Frederick Douglass, I haven’t been
able to get out of my head since I read the novel last year.
McCann’s choice of Douglass, whose travels to Ireland are little-known
in this country, to imagine in his novel is genius. Who better to seal the
deal, that color of skin is zero barrier to achievement, grace and honor in the
annals of the human spirit?
Then, this, from the President of the United States, in his recent
Black History shout-out:
Douglass is “an example of somebody who has done an amazing
job and is being recognized more and more, I notice.”
Too bad, isn’t it, that Frederick Douglass weren’t around to
run for president? If only this great were with us (no, don’t spill the beans
to the president, who’s under the impression that the famous abolitionist is
still alive. There’s no point in riling him about this).
Next: Run for Your Life: New Leader of the Free World
