PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass are preparing to face off in a debate at West Chester University Wednesday night. Of course, this Lincoln-Douglass discussion is not to be confused with the famous 1858 debates you may remember from history class between the 16th president and Sen. Stephen Douglas.
This fictional debate depicts a conversation that never was but should have been, said documentarian Charles Cook. The president and the abolitionist will take the stage for an imaginary conversation exploring race relations.
Cook took actual speeches from each man and crafted them to address several issues, including the future of formerly enslaved Black men in the years after the Civil War. While Lincoln and Douglass disagreed on the pace of emancipation, for example, Cook said they did share common ground.
“We can have differing views. That’s OK. But what we can’t have is thinking that color has something to do with the quality of the person,” Cook said.
The words of history, Cook said, can illuminate the racial reckoning of today.
“Even though this is a debate and they’re coming from different directions, it’s important that the audience sees that,” he said, “because the answers we need today, we already had in the 19th century. And we just have to hear them again.”
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The play presents no conclusions, allowing audience members to think for themselves as they leave the theater.
“Lincoln and Douglass aren’t with us anymore, but their thoughts can be with us,” said Cook. “And if we take their thoughts from the theater, we’ll do more than just drive home.”
There’s only one performance, which takes place Wednesday, March 23, at 7 p.m. in Asplundh Hall on West Chester University’s campus, 700 South High St.
However, Cook said the debate will be recorded for future presentations.
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