>> TONIGHT ON RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY.

>> GUNS ARE THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH FOR CHILDREN IN THE UNITED STATES.

IT IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY EMERGENCY ROOM PHYSICIANS SAY GUN VIOLENCE NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AS A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE.

>> REGARDLESS OF WHETHER YOU ARE A GOD -- GUN OWNER OR NOT, A REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT, NO ONE WANTS THEIR LOVED ONE TO BE SHOT.

WHEN I FRAME IT IN THAT WAY WE CAN MAKE MORE PROGRESS.

>> DOUGLAS WROTE ESSAYS ABOUT PHOTOGRAPHY.

HE THOUGHT PHOTOGRAPHY WAS SO IMPORTANT THAT PHOTOGRAPHY WAS GOING TO BE ABLE TO SHOW WHITE AMERICANS THAT THE HUMANITY OF BLACK PEOPLE WAS THE SAME AS THEIR HUMANITY.

>> SO AS I TOOK MORE AND MORE PHOTOS OF PROVIDENCE, WHAT I REALLY GOT INTERESTED IN IS SHARING PROVIDENCES DUTY WITH THE WORLD.

IF I SEE SOMETHING, I KNOW OTHER PEOPLE ARE SEEING IT TOO AND WE CAN SHARE THAT MOMENT TOGETHER.

ALL I DO IS TAKE THOSE PHOTOGRAPHS.

♪ >> GOOD EVENING, WELCOME TO RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY.

I AM MICHELLE SIM ADELE.

>> I AM PAMELA WATTS.

TODAY WE BEGIN WITH SOME STARTLING STATISTICS.

EVERY DAY, MORE THAN 100 PEOPLE DIE FROM GUN VIOLENCE IN THE UNITED STATES AND ANOTHER 200 ARE INJURED.

>> EMERGENCY PHYSICIANS KNOW THIS ISSUE WELL.

THEY ARE THE ONES WHO TREAT THE PATIENTS WHO SURVIVE AND COMFORT THE LOVED ONES OF THOSE WHO DO NOT SURVIVE.

TWO OF THOSE DOCTORS IN A NEW ENGLAND BELIEVE THAT ADDRESSING THIS IS A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE CAN HELP REDUCE THE VIOLENCE.

BUT SOME SAY THAT PHYSICIANS NEED TO STAY IN THEIR LANE WHEN IT COMES TO GUNS.

>> AS AN ER DOCTOR I TAKE CARE OF LOTS OF THINGS THAT I AM ABLE TO CHANGE AND PREVENT.

IT SEEMS CRAZY TO ME THAT WE SHOULD JUST ACCEPT GUN VIOLENCE.

AND NOT TRY TO CHANGE OR PREVENT IT, THE SAME WAY THAT I CHANGE OR PREVENT ANY OTHER HEALTH PROBLEM.

>> THAT DETERMINATION TO DEAL WITH GUN VIOLENCE IN A DIFFERENT WAY BEGAN FOR DR. MEGAN EARLY IN HER CAREER IN RHODE ISLAND.

WHEN A YOUNG MAN ARRIVED IN THE ER NEAR DEATH.

>> IT WAS THE FIRST TIME I HAD EVER SEEN SOMEONE WHO HAD SHOT THEMSELVES.

AND MADE IT TO THE ER.

I TAKE CARE OF LOTS OF PEOPLE WHO UNFORTUNATELY WANT TO HURT THEMSELVES AND I AM ALMOST ALWAYS ABLE TO SAVE THEM.

I COULD NOT SAVE THIS KID.

>> SUICIDE, IT IS THE NUMBER ONE CAUSE OF FIREARM RELATED DEATHS IN THE UNITED STATES.

WHILE THE DOCTOR HAS TREATED COUNTLESS PATIENTS WITH GUNSHOT WOUNDS, SHE OFTEN THINGS BACK TO THAT PATIENT WHO DID NOT MAKE IT.

IT HAS GUIDED HER WORK AT BROWN UNIVERSITY.

SHE IS THE ACADEMIC DEAN FOR THE SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH.

>> IT TURNED OUT THAT THIS YOUNG MAN HAD HAD SOMETHING UPSETTING HAPPENED EARLIER IN THE DAY.

AND HE KNEW WHERE HIS PARENTS FIREARM WAS STORED AND HOW TO ACCESS IT.

AND I COULD NOT STOP THINKING ABOUT IF HE HAD NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET ACCESS TO THE GUN IN THAT MOMENT OF DESPERATION, WOULD HE STILL BE ALIVE?

>> DR. CHRIS HAS SEEN IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM.

HE HAS HAD TO CONDUCT THREAT ASSESSMENTS OF PATIENTS WHO WERE TALKING OR ACTING DANGEROUSLY, AND LEGALLY HAD ACCESS TO GUNS.

>> I WAS AT THAT TIME WORKING AT SEVERAL ERS IN NEW YORK, VERMONT AND WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS.

MY WORK DID NOT HAVE PSYCHIATRY, SO PHYSICIANS WERE DOING ALL OF THE EVALUATION OF WHAT IS THE RISK OF THIS PERSON WITH RESPECT TO THEIR ACCESS TO A FIREARM.

AND WE HAVE HAD NO TRAINING IN THAT.

>> IN 2017, THEY DECIDED TO TAKE ACTION HIMSELF.

HE FOUNDED THE NONPROFIT OF FIRM.

ALONG WITH OTHER PHYSICIANS, THEY BELIEVE THAT NONVIOLENCE NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AS A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE.

>> DR. CHRIS CITES A CHRIS OF HOW -- A CASE OF HOW HE WOULD HANDLE A PATIENT WITH DEMENTIA WHO BROUGHT TO THE ER.

>> IF THEY ARE BROUGHT TO ME FOR AGITATION BEHAVIOR I WOULD ASK THE FAMILY, SO NOW THAT THIS PERSON HAS PROGRESSED THIS LONG AND IS THROWING POTS AND PANS AT HIS WIFE, WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR HIS FIREARMS?

AND THIS IS AN EASY DISCUSSION.

OH, THAT'S A REALLY GOOD THOUGHT.

LET'S THINK ABOUT THAT.

AND SO, THEY MAKE A PLAN FOR ADDRESSING THE FIREARM ACCESS AT THE HOME.

AND THE BAD OUTCOME IS AVERTED AND YOU NEVER HEAR ABOUT IT.

>> >> THERE IS NOTHING IN YOUR TRAINING THAT WOULD HAVE REQUIRED YOU TO ASK THAT QUESTION.

YOU TOOK IT UPON YOURSELF BASED ON WHAT YOU HAD OBSERVED IN PRIOR YEARS IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM?

>> YES.

IT IS BASED ON EXPERIENCE AND AS A FIREARM OWNER.

AND A TRAINER.

THE RESPONSIBILITY AND SAFETY ARE PARAMOUNT.

>> THEY SAY IT IS ABOUT PICKING UP ON THE WARNING SIGNS.

RESEARCH SHOWS NEARLY HALF OF ALL PEOPLE WHO TAKE THEIR OWN LIVES VISITED THEIR PRIMARY CARE PROVIDER WITHIN THE PRECEDING MONTH.

>> ASKING ABOUT FIREARM ACCESS FOR PEOPLE AT RISK OF SUICIDE WAS NOT SOMETHING I WAS TAUGHT IN MEDICAL SCHOOL OR IN RESIDENCY.

IT REALLY WAS NOT UNTIL I STARTED TO DO THIS WORK THAT I REALIZED HOW COMMON FIREARM SUICIDE IS AND HW IMPORTANT IT IS TO TALK ABOUT ACCESS TO A GUN WHEN YOU ARE TRYING TO PROTECT SOMEONE FROM HURTING THEMSELVES.

>> WHAT IS THE RESPONSE YOU GET FROM PATIENTS?

>> IT'S FINE.

I ASK IT AS PART OF A LARGER GROUP OF QUESTIONS.

IT IS NOT LIKE I'M QUIZZING SOMEONE ABOUT WHETHER THEY ARE A GUN OWNER OR NOT.

>> AS A GUN OWNER AND PHYSICIAN, DR. CHRIS IS POSSIBLE -- TALKING WITH GROUP STATEWIDE ABOUT DEVELOPING FIREARM SAFETY EDUCATION WITH A FOCUS ON COMMUNITY HEALTH.

HOW YOU BEEN RECEIVED BY OTHER FRIENDS OF YOURS, OTHER PEOPLE IN THE FIREARM COMMUNITY, WITH THE APPROACH YOU ARE TAKING TO GUN VIOLENCE?

>> I HAVE NO PROBLEMS WHATSOEVER IN WORKING WITH INDIVIDUALS IN THE FIREARM INDUSTRY, THE FIREARM COMMUNITY, MY OWN RANGE, MY OWN EMILY ON THIS TOPIC.

OR SPEAKING ABOUT ACCESS.

>> THEY BOTH STRESSED THAT THEIR WORK IS NOT ABOUT GUN RIGHTS OR CONTROL.

BUT THIS PUBLIC HEALTH APPROACH HAS NOT SAT WELL WITH THE NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION.

IN 2018, THE NRA TWEETED SOMEONE SHOULD TELL SELF-IMPORTANT ANTI-GUN DOCTORS TO STAY IN THEIR LANE.

>> IN TALKING ABOUT FIREARMS, WE DO IN SOME WAYS TALK TO OURSELVES.

BUT THE LANGUAGE WAS REALLY UNFRIENDLY.

A FEW HOURS AFTER THAT TWITTER FEED WENT OUT, THERE WAS A MASS SHOOTING IN CALIFORNIA.

>> WE ARE FOLLOWING NEW DETAILS ON A MASS SHOOTING IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA WHERE A GUNMAN KILLED AT LEAST 12 PEOPLE.

>> EVEN THOUGH MASS SHOOTINGS MAKE UP LESS THAN 1% OF FIREARM RELATED DEATHS NATIONWIDE, THEY TEND TO GENERATE THE MOST FEAR.

IT IS AN ISSUE THAT IS PERSONAL.

IN SEPTEMBER, SHE SHARED A STORY ON SOCIAL MEDIA ABOUT WHY HER TEENAGE DAUGHTER ALWAYS WEARS SNEAKERS.

>> SHE WAS AT A LOCAL FOOTBALL GAME AND THERE WAS A FIGHT THAT BROKE OUT.

I TALKED TO HER ABOUT IT AND WHAT HAPPENED?

WHAT DID YOU DO?

SHE SAID TO ME I GOT AS FAR AWAY FROM IT AS I COULD.

I DID NOT WANT TO BE NEAR IT.

BUT ALSO THAT'S WHY I WEAR SNEAKERS EVERYWHERE, BECAUSE THAT WAY I COULD RUN IF SOMEONE PULLED OUT A GUN.

AND I KIND OF TOOK A BREATH.

I WAS LIKE REALLY?

AND SHE WAS LIKE ALL MY FRIENDS DO.

THAT IS ONE KID, THAT IS ONE STORY, BUT IT REALLY REMINDED ME IN A VERY PERSONAL WAY OF THE DEGREE TO WHICH OUR KIDS ARE GROWING UP, KNOWING THAT THIS IS PART OF THEIR REALITY.

>> A CHANGING REALITY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE.

>> IN 2020, GUNS WERE THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH FOR CHILDREN IN THE UNITED STATES.

>> ACCORDING TO THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION, MORE THAN 45,000 PEOPLE DIED IN 2020 FROM GUN RELATED INJURIES IN THE UNITED STATES.

INCLUDING ABOUT 4300 CHILDREN.

>> THERE ARE 81 MILLION GUN OWNERS IN THIS COUNTRY.

AT LEAST.

AND THEY OWN A HALF A BILLION GUNS BETWEEN THEM.

SO WHAT THAT MEANS SIMPLISTICALLY IS THAT ALL OF THESE INJURIES ARE BEING PERPETRATED BY A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE THAT OWN FIREARMS.

I THINK THAT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS TO RECOGNIZE THAT WE DO NOT HAVE THE ANSWERS AND FOR US TO BE OPEN AND HUMBLE ABOUT THAT AND TRY TO WORK WITH PEOPLE WHO MIGHT HAVE IDEAS SO THAT WE CAN COLLABORATE ON SOLUTIONS.

>> PUBLIC HEALTH APPROACHES HAVE HELPED SOLVE PROBLEM AFTER PROBLEM.

INCLUDING DEATHS FROM CAR CRASHES AND SMOKING.

SHE SAYS THERE ARE PRACTICAL THINGS THAT CAN ALSO BE DONE TO REDUCE DEATHS FROM FIREARMS.

>> THERE HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN STUDIES SHOWING THAT WHEN YOU PUT STREETLIGHTS IN A NEIGHBORHOOD, THE NUMBER OF SHOOTINGS GOES DOWN.

IF YOU PUT A GARDEN IN A VACANT LOT, YOU TAKE A DILAPIDATED BUILDING OR A LOT THAT IS FILLED WITH BROKEN GLASS AND GARBAGE AND YOU TURN IT INTO A GARDEN, THAT REDUCES THE NUMBER OF SHOOTINGS AND VIOLENT INCIDENTS AROUND THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.

>> ARE YOU FEELING MORE HOPEFUL NOW THEN WHEN YOU BEGIN THIS WORK?

>> THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT MAKE ME SCARED AND WORRIED, BUT DAY AFTER DAY WE CONTINUE TO WORK WITH FOLKS WHO MAY NOT HAVE EVER WORKED TOGETHER BEFORE.

TO HELP CHANGE THESE PATTERNS.

IT'S ABOUT CREATING COALITIONS ACROSS OUR SOCIETY, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER WE VOTE RED OR BLUE.

AND I SEE THOSE GROWING.

AND THAT IS ACTUALLY WHAT GIVES ME HOPE, BECAUSE I KNOW OUR KIDS DESERVE A DIFFERENT TOMORROW.

FROM THE ONE THAT THEY ARE LIVING IN RIGHT NOW.

♪ >> NOW ANOTHER LOOK AT A STORY THAT CONTRIBUTING REPORTER BILL BARTHOLOMEW BROUGHT US LAST MARCH ABOUT ONE MAN AND A GROUP OF AREA TEENS WHO ARE ALSO FIGHTING GUN VIOLENCE WITH AN UNLIKELY WEAPON.

>> I KNOW PEOPLE THAT HAVE DIED FROM CANCER, PEOPLE THAT HAVE DIED FROM AUTO ACCIDENTS, TAKING THEIR LIVES IN OTHER WAYS.

COMPLICATIONS FROM DIABETES.

BUT I KNOW FIVE PEOPLE -- I DO NOT KNOW FIVE PEOPLE THAT HAVE DIED FOR ANY OF THOSE THINGS.

>> PROVIDENCE ARTIST AND EDUCATOR SCOTT LATHAM DOES KNOW FIVE PEOPLE WHO DIED FROM ONE SINGLE OR CAUSE, GUN VIOLENCE.

ONE OF HIS FIRST EXPERIENCES WITH GUN TRAGEDY WAS LOSING ONE OF HIS STUDENTS.

>> STANDING IN LINE AT A FOOD TRUCK TO GET A SANDWICH AND HE GOT SHOT.

AND IT WAS, YOU KNOW, REALLY, REALLY INTENSE.

REALLY DEVASTATING.

>> SOON AFTER HE LOST THREE MORE STUDENTS AND REALIZED THAT THIS WAS A MUCH BIGGER PROBLEM.

>> THERE WAS ERIC, DOUG, AND VINNIE.

AND OVER THE YEARS, I REALLY STARTED TO THINK ABOUT IT MORE.

LIKE WHAT WAS HAPPENING, HOW CRAZY IT WAS.

>> CRAZY AND CLOSE TO HOME.

LATHAM SAYS THE LOSSES BROUGHT BACK A MEMORY HE HAD LONG TRIED TO SUPPRESS.

HIS STEPBROTHER TAKING HIS OWN LIFE.

>> THAT WAS A FAMILY TRAGEDY.

AND I DID NOT REALLY THINK ABOUT IT IN TERMS OF GUN VIOLENCE, SO I REALLY STARTED TO LOOK AT GOD VIOLENCE AS SOMETHING -- GUN VIOLENCE AS SOMETHING THAT IS ACROSS-THE-BOARD AND IT WAS NOT -- PEOPLE ARE UNHAPPY ACROSS THE WORLD.

PEOPLE HAVE CONFLICT AROUND THE WORLD, BUT NOT EVERY CULTURE HAS SO MANY GUNS TO MAKE OUR HUMAN BEHAVIORS DEADLY AND FATAL.

AND THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE.

>> HE DECIDED TO BLEND HIS EXPERIENCES WITH GUN VIOLENCE ADVOCACY, ART AND EDUCATION INTO ONE PROJECT WITH A MISSION TO GET PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT THE PROBLEM.

LAUNCHING ONE GUN GONE IN AT THOUSAND 15, HE AND HIS STUDENTS TAKE MOLDS OF GUNS, DEVELOP A STATEMENT OF WHAT THEY WANT TO SAY AND CONVERT THE DEADLY WEAPONS INTO ART AND HOPEFULLY START A DIALOGUE.

STUDENTS LIKE JEREMY PEREZ HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS SORT OF TRAGEDY AROUND THEM AND SAY THEY HAVE FOUND A SAFE HAVEN THROUGH THE PROGRAM.

>> GUN VIOLENCE HAS AFFECTED MY COMMUNITY A LOT.

A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SHOT AND KILLED.

IT IS STUFF THAT YOU SEE AT AN EARLY AGE.

IT AFFECTS HOW AS A KID GROWING UP, BEING ABLE TO GO OUTSIDE AND HAVE FUN.

IT IS HARD WHEN YOU HEAR GUNSHOTS AND HAVE TO RUN BACK HOME.

>> ONE GONE GONE HAS GIVEN STUDENTS A PLACE TO CHANNEL THEIR ENERGY -- ONE GUN GONE.

THE RESULTS HAVE BEEN IMPRESSIVE ART DISPLAYED IN VARIOUS SPACES.

THE IDEAS AND MATERIALS USED ARE SEEMINGLY ENDLESS.

>> WE WANTED TO DO IT IN CLASS.

WE DID NOT REALIZE HOW AMBITIOUS THAT WAS GOING TO BE, BUT THE REASON WE WANTED TO USE GLASS IS BECAUSE IT IS TRANSPARENT.

IT MADE US THINK OF THE FLEETING NIST OF LIFE.

-- THE FLEETING NATURE OF LIFE.

THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR IT TO SHATTER AND THAT IS TALKING ABOUT A GUN IN A WAY THAT WE DO NOT NORMALLY THINK ABOUT IT, WHICH IS GUNS ARE POWERFUL, YOU KNOW, THEY ARE ALL ABOUT POWER.

WHERE DO YOU GO FROM THERE?

>> WITHOUT THE PROJECT WOULD END, BUT THEN WE STARTED THINKING WHY SHOULD IT END?

WHAT ELSE CAN WE PUT IN IT?

>> ONE OF THE PROGRAM'S MOST POWERFUL DESIGNS IS THE PENCIL GUN.

>> WHAT I ALWAYS SAY IS SOMETHING ALONG THE LINES OF THE PEN IS MIGHTIER THAN THE SWORD, THAT IS WHAT I THOUGHT THE MESSAGE WAS.

BUT EVERYBODY ELSE LOOKS AT IT AND YOUNG PEOPLE ARE LIKE SCHOOL SHOOTINGS.

AND ONE YOUNG MAN CAME IN AND WE WERE EXPECTING THIS, HE LOOKED AT IT AND SAID THIS DOES NOT HAVE AN ERASER.

THAT MEANS YOU CANNOT TAKE IT BACK.

>> ONE STUDENT AND ARTIST SAYS THAT GUN VIOLENCE HAS GOTTEN SO BAD THAT PROGRAMS LIKE ONE GUN GONE ARE NEEDED NOW MORE THAN EVER.

>> IT HAS DEFINITELY GOTTEN WORSE.

THERE'S A WHOLE BUNCH OF STUFF THAT IS KIND OF INFLUENCED IT.

NO MATTER WHAT IT IS, WHETHER IT IS THE MUSIC PEOPLE LISTEN TO, THE PEOPLE THAT THEY SURROUND THEM SELVES WITH, BUT I CAN DEFINITELY SAY THAT IT IS GROWING DAY BY DAY.

♪ >> UP NEXT, HE WAS A FUGITIVE AIDED BY FRIENDS IN RHODE ISLAND IN A DARING AND DANGEROUS ESCAPE.

HE WENT FROM BEING ON THE RUN TO BECOMING ONE OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL AMERICANS OF THE 19TH CENTURY.

TONIGHT, HOW THE PEOPLE OF OUR COMMUNITY PLAYED A PIVOTAL ROLE IN THE LIFE OF AN ABOLITION ACTIVIST AS HE TOOK HIS FIRST STEPS TO FREEDOM.

>> THROUGHOUT HIS WHOLE LIFE, FROM THE TIME THAT HE REALLY GAINS FREEDOM, HE WORKS CONSTANTLY FOR FREEDOM.

AND FOR FREEDOM FOR HIS BROTHERS AND SISTERS, MEANING THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY, HE SPOKE OUT FOR WOMEN.

AT ONE POINT IN TIME, HE IS IN ENGLAND AND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS FOR THE ENGLISH TO TAKE THEIR FOOT OFF THE NECK OF THE IRISH.

SO HE WAS SOMEBODY WHO WORKED ALL THE TIME FOR EQUALITY.

>> THAT EARLY CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVIST WAS BORN A SOUTHERN SLAVE.

FREDERICK AT GUSTUS WASHINGTON BAILEY, LATER CHANGING HIS NAME TO FREDERICK DOUGLASS TO ELUDE CAPTURE.

HE ESCAPED BONDAGE, ARRIVING INTO NEWPORT IN 1838.

HISTORIAN AT LEAST BLAKE EXPLAINS WHY HE COULD NOT STAY THERE.

>> BECAUSE NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND IS A SLAVE STATE.

AND ONE THING THAT PEOPLE REALLY FORGET IS HOW INVOLVED RHODE ISLAND WAS IN THE SLAVE TRADE.

MANY OF THE SLAVE SHIPS THAT CAME TO THE UNITED STATES CAME INTO RHODE ISLAND.

>> BUT DOUGLAS AND HIS NEW WIFE, ANNAMARIE DOUGLAS, DO FIND IT SAFE HARBOR HOWEVER BRIEFLY IN NEWPORT WITH THE FREE BLACK FAMILY OF ISAAC RICE.

THE RICE HOMESTEAD STILL STANDS ON THE CORNER OF THOMAS AND WILLIAMS STREETS.

IT WAS A STATION ON THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD.

THE DOUGLASS'S WERE THEN WHISKED BY STAGECOACH HERE TO NEW BEDFORD.

>> FROM THAT CORNER, DOWN ABOUT FOUR BLOCKS, IS ALL ABOLITION ROAD.

>> BLAKE WHO WAS PRESIDENT OF THE NEW BEDFORD HISTORICAL SOCIETY SAYS IT IS TO THIS CITY NEIGHBORHOOD NOW THE HISTORIC DISTRICT ABOLITION ROAD THAT DOUGLAS IS A SENSE.

HE HAS HIS FIRST TASTE OF LIFE AS A FREE MAN IN THE HOME OF NATHAN AND POLLY JOHNSON.

>> WHAT ROLE DID THIS VERY HOUSE THAT WE ARE SITTING IN HAVE IN SHAPING FREDERICK DOUGLASS HIS LIFE?

>> NATHAN AND POLLY JOHNSON, WHO WERE AFRICAN-AMERICAN ENTREPRENEURS, WERE PART OF THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD.

SO THIS IS AN UNDERGROUND RAILROAD SITE.

AND WHEN ANNA AND FREDERICK COME HERE, THEY HAVE JUST BEEN MARRIED THREE OR FOUR DAYS.

BUT FREDERICK WAS 20 YEARS OLD, SO WE ARE SO USED TO SEEING FREDERICK DOUGLASS AS AN ELDER STATESMAN, WE FORGET THAT HE HAD A FOUNDATION STORY.

AND THIS HOUSE IS PART OF THE FOUNDATION STORY.

>> THE JOHNSON'S HOUSE STOOD SIDE-BY-SIDE WITH THOSE OF QUAKER FAMILIES WHOSE MEETING HOUSE IS ALSO ON THE STREET.

ANTI-SLAVERY QUAKERS WERE ACTIVE IN THE CITIES WHALING TRADE AND EMPLOYED MANY AFRICAN-AMERICANS.

>> NEW BEDFORD IS A REALLY UNIQUE PLACE, AT THAT TIME.

NEW BEDFORD IS BUSTLING WHALING PORT, BUT IT IS ALSO A PLACE WITH A LARGE FREE BLACK POPULATION.

MASSACHUSETTS ENDS OF IN 1783.

SO PEOPLE HERE ARE FREE AND ARE ABLE TO GO ABOUT THEIR BUSINESS AS CITIZENS.

>> DOUGLASS FINDS WORKS ON THE DOCKS IN IT NEW BEDFORD AND MARVELS AT THE OPPORTUNITY IN THE SEAPORT TOWN.

>> HE IS ABLE TO VOTE HERE.

VOTING IN IT WAS NOT SEGREGATED.

HE PAID HIS POLL TAX, $1.50, AND IN THE 1840'S, HE IS VOTING.

NEW BEDFORD AFRICAN-AMERICANS WERE RUNNING PEOPLE FOR ELECTIONS.

FOUR DIFFERENT POSTS AND POSITIONS.

SO, NEW BEDFORD TEACHES HIM THE POSSIBILITY AND THE HOPE OF WHAT FREEDOM MIGHT REALLY LOOK LIKE IF PEOPLE WERE EQUAL.

>> DOUGLAS IS ABLE TO ATTEND CHURCH AND ACT AS A LAY MINISTER, WHERE HE LEARNS HE NEEDS TO SPEAK UP.

>> HE TALKS ABOUT GETTING THE SACRAMENT IN ONE OF THE CHURCHES, WHERE HE IS SITTING IN THE BACK PEW.

HE GETS THE SACRAMENTS LAST.

AND HE JUST CANNOT BELIEVE IT.

HE WRITES ABOUT THAT.

AND HE WRITES ABOUT HOW CHRISTIANS WERE HYPOCRITICAL.

>> SO IT WASN'T PERFECT?

>> HE'S ALSO ABLE TO WRITE AND PUT EDITORIALS IN THE PAPER, SO HE DEVELOPS A VOICE HERE, WHICH HE WOULD NOT HAVE DEVELOPED ANYWHERE ELSE.

>> THAT VOICE BRINGS AN INVITATION TO SPEAK IN NANTUCKET, A TRANSFORMATIONAL MOMENT WHERE THE AUDIENCE MEETS THE ELOQUENT LITERATE SELF EDUCATED DOUGLAS.

>> HE IS VERY HESITANT, BUT HE SPEAKS AND TALKS ABOUT HIS LIFE AS AN ENSLAVED PERSON.

BUT AT THAT TIME MANY OF THE ABOLITIONISTS HAD NEVER REALLY MET A SLAVE.

SO DOUGLAS BECOMES REALLY IMPORTANT, BECAUSE HE CAN COMMUNICATE THAT MESSAGE OF WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO BE ENSLAVED.

HE WOULD TALK ABOUT HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS MOTHER, WHO HE ONLY SAW A COUPLE OF TIMES HIS WHOLE LIFE.

AND THE BEATINGS THAT HE HAD.

>> BLAKE SAYS DOUGLAS NOT ONLY GAVE A POWERFUL FIRST-PERSON VOICE TO THE EVILS OF SLAVERY, HE GAVE A FACE AND AN IMPOSING INTELLECTUALLY GIFTED LEADER .

>> HE HAD A WHOLE RATIONALE FOR THAT.

HE WROTE ESSAYS ABOUT PHOTOGRAPHY.

HE THOUGHT PHOTOGRAPHY WAS SO IMPORTANT THAT PHOTOGRAPHY WAS GOING TO BE ABLE TO SHOW WHITE AMERICANS THAT THE HUMANITY OF BLACK PEOPLE WAS THE SAME AS THEIR HUMANITY.

BUT HE ALSO WAS LOOKING AT THE IDEA THAT AT THE TIME, WHITE PEOPLE WERE MAKING SURE THAT THERE WERE STEREOTYPES OF BLACK PEOPLE, THAT THEY WOULD DO PICTURES THAT WERE DEMEANING, THAT DEPICTED THEM AS LESS INTELLIGENT, SO HE REALLY WAS PUSHING THE WHOLE IDEA THAT THAT WAS NOT TRUE.

>> BLAKE SAYS DOUGLAS AND HIS FAMILY LIVED IN NEW BEDFORD FOR ABOUT FIVE YEARS.

HE WOULD RETURN MANY TIMES TO VISIT.

HE EVENTUALLY LECTURED AT THE NEWPORT OPERA HOUSE ON TAURO SQUARE AND MAINTAIN HIS FRIENDSHIP WITH THE RICE FAMILY.

RECENTLY, RICE DESCENDANTS WHO STILL OWN THE HOME FOUND A LETTER FROM DOUGLAS IN A BUNDLE OF FAMILY PAPERS.

IT WAS WRITTEN IN 1860 ON THE PEOPLE OF THE CIVIL WAR.

THE LETTER BEGINS THESE ARE STORMY DAYS.

IN A SURPRISED TURN OF FATE, BLAKE FOUND THAT SHE TOO HAS A CONNECTION TO FREDERICK DOUGLASS.

>> THESE ARE MY ABOLITIONIST ANCESTORS, WILLIAM AND HENRIETTA PIPER.

HERE I AM, AND EDUCATOR, I'M RESEARCHING AND WHAT HAPPENS?

I COME ACROSS MY OWN FAMILY'S NAMES IN THE PAPERS.

IN LETTERS THAT FREDERICK DOUGLASS WROTE.

>> BLAKE'S GREAT GREAT GREAT GRANDPARENTS WERE ALSO CONDUCTORS ON THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD, ALONG ABOLITION ROKITA >> WE ARE PROUD OF THAT AND WE ARE PROUD OF A NUMBER OF THE ABOLITIONISTS WHO WORKED VERY HARD TO END THE WHOLE OPPRESSIVE SYSTEM OF ENSLAVEMENT.

>> RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE JOHNSON HOME, CONSTRUCTION IS NOW UNDERWAY ON ABOLITION ROAD PARK.

AT ITS HEART WILL BE A STATUE OF FREDERICK DOUGLASS.

>> THE STATUE DEPICTS DOUGLAS IN HIS WATERFRONT WORKING CLOSE AND WILL BEAR HIS QUOTE TRUTH, JUSTICE, LIBERTY, AND HUMANITY.

WILL ULTIMATELY PREVAIL.

OF THE SAME WORDS INSCRIBED ON THE SENATE CHAMBER WALLS OF THE MASSACHUSETTS STATE HOUSE.

>> WHAT DO YOU WANT PEOPLE TO FEEL WHEN THEY GO TO THE NEW ABOLITION ROAD PARK?

>> I WANT PEOPLE TO SEE HOW CYNICALLY ENGAGED PEOPLE WERE AND USE THAT AS AN EXAMPLE FOR THEM TO MOVE FORWARD AND BE ENGAGED.

BE ENGAGED IN SAVING OUR DEMOCRACY, BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT THOSE PEOPLE WERE DOING AND WE ARE STILL FIGHTING FOR OUR DEMOCRACY.

♪ >> FINALLY TONIGHT, WE HEAR FROM RHODE ISLAND PHOTOGRAPHER MIKE AS HE GIVES US HIS TAKE ON WHY PROVIDENCE IS SUCH A SPECIAL PLACE, ONE BEAUTIFUL FRAME AT A TIME.

>> A BIG MOTIVATOR FOR ME IS JUST GETTING PROVIDENCE OUT THERE TO THE WORLD.

WHETHER IT IS IN A PHOTOGRAPH OR ONE OF MY TIME LAPSES.

PEOPLE SHOULD WANT TO COME AND VISIT HERE AND I DO EVERYTHING I CAN TO ENCOURAGE IT.

MY NAME IS MIKE AND THIS IS MY TAKE.

ON CAPTURING PROVIDENCE'S BEAUTY.

I'M FROM THE WEST COAST, GREW UP OUTSIDE OF PORTLAND, OREGON.

IN 2006 I LOADED UP MY SUBARU AND ROLLED INTO RHODE ISLAND.

WHEN I FIRST CAME TO PROVIDENCE, MY FIRST VIEW OF IT WAS COMING UP INTERSTATE 95 NORTH.

AND IT JUST THE SKYLINE REVEALED ITSELF TO ME.

EVER SINCE THAT DAY I'VE HAD A COMPLETE FASCINATION WITH IT.

SO AS I TOOK MORE AND MORE PHOTOS OF PROVIDENCE, WHAT I REALLY GOT INTERESTED IN IS SHARING PROVIDENCES BEAUTY WITH THE WORLD.

OFF OF THAT SPURRED A WHOLE BUNCH OF OPPORTUNITIES TO SHARE PROVIDENCE IN ONE WAY, SHAPE OR ANOTHER AND REALLY TRY TO HELP PUT IT ON THE MAP.

A LOT OF ELEMENTS CAN MAKE UP A GOOD PHOTOGRAPH.

BUT THE TWO THAT I REALLY STICK WITH IS THE CITY OF PROVIDENCE AND A REALLY UNIQUE EVENT, WHETHER THAT BE A SUNSET OR THUNDERSTORM OR ANY KIND OF WEATHER OR CLOUDS THAT COME IN.

I FEEL IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE CAN SHARE WHAT WE SEE.

AND IF I SEE SOMETHING I KNOW OTHER PEOPLE ARE IN PROVIDENCE SEEING IT AND WE CAN SHARE THAT MOMENT TOGETHER.

SO ONE OF MY FAVORITE SUBJECTS TO PHOTOGRAPH IN ALL OF PROVIDENCE.

I PHOTOGRAPHED HIM IN SO MANY DIFFERENT WAYS, FROM BEING COVERED IN SNOW IN HIS LOINCLOTH TO STANDING THERE BRIEFLY AS A THUNDERSTORM PASSES AND A LIGHTNING BOLT IS DROPPING.

HE IS THE PERFECT SUBJECT FOR ANY SITUATION.

YOU CAN LINE HIM RIGHT UP PERFECTLY WITH THE SUN AND HAVE HIM SILHOUETTED.

I THINK I WAS ALWAYS MEANT TO BE A PHOTOGRAPHER.

IT PERFECTLY SUITS MY LIFESTYLE AND WHAT BRINGS ME PLEASURE.

AND REALLY WHAT DRIVES ME.

♪ >> THE FACT THAT THERE ARE PHOTOS OUT THERE THAT I HAVE IN MY MIND THAT I HAVE NOT TAKEN YET JUST KEEPS ME UP AT NIGHT.

ALL I WANT TO DO IS TAKE THOSE PHOTOGRAPHS.

BUT I KNOW ONCE I TAKE THOSE PHOTOGRAPHS, THERE WILL BE NEW PHOTOGRAPHS TO REPLACE THEM.

THAT REALLY IS WHAT KEEPS ME GOING.

PROVIDENCE IS BEAUTIFUL.

PROVIDENCE HAS BEEN PHOTOGRAPHED WELL FOR A VERY LONG TIME AND REALLY, I AM JUST THE NEXT PERSON IN LINE TO DOCUMENT ITS BEAUTY.

UNTIL SOMEBODY COMES AND REPLACES ME.

MY NAME IS MIKE AND THAT WAS MY TAKE ON CAPTURING PROVIDENCES BEAUTY.

>> AND THAT IS OUR BROADCAST THIS EVENING.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

I AM PAMELA WATTS.

>> I AM MICHELLE SAN MIGUEL.

WE WILL BE BACK NEXT WEEK WITH ANOTHER EDITION OF RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY.

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