No Cowards in Our Band, a co-production of WCNY (PBS) and Syracuse Opera, features
operatic vocal artists Kearstin Piper Brown, Chauncey Packer, and Gregory Sheppard performing great African American spirituals interwoven with many of the most famous speeches of the great American Frederick Douglass, presented by actor Masud Olufani, portraying Mr. Douglass. Watch live Friday, August 20 at 9:00 PM on WPBS-TV or the WPBS Livestream.
Created and written by Anthony B. Knight, with Musical Direction and selections by Wayne Sanders, the work reveals facts about Frederick Douglass’ young life as a slave, his eventual freedom, and his friendship with President Abraham Lincoln. Douglass’ spoke on many occasions in the CNY and WNY Region. His words resonate in 2021 as powerfully as when they were originally shared.
This collaborative film presentation was funded by a grant from Empire State Development and supported by the Innovation Group of CNY Arts, LLC and the Empire State Development Film Office. (The film is 90 minutes in length)
