Approximately 200 people were transported back to 1870 for an hour in the Old Lehigh County Courthouse in downtown Allentown.

The newly-renovated Gold Courtroom in the historic courthouse was the site of a powerful, mesmerizing performance by abolitionist Frederick Douglass, twice.

The first time the real Douglass appeared and spoke there was in 1870, and in early November renowned historical reenactor, Darius Wallace, brought Douglass back to life in the same stately courtroom.

The event was sponsored by the Lehigh County Historical Society, in conjunction with President Judge J. Brian Johnson and the Court of Common Pleas.

Wallace, a premier Douglass scholar and reenactor, has portrayed Frederick Douglass in Hollywood movies and in performances throughout the country, including at schools.

Throughout the event, Wallace remained in character, wearing a wig to match the distinguishing style of Douglass’ hair.

Wallace had the rapt attention of the audience from the moment he slowly entered the courtroom singing, “Swing low, sweet chariot …,” the first of several old spirituals he dramatically interjected in his performance.

Although Douglass, born into slavery in 1818, spoke at the Old Courthouse on the subject of immigration and its importance in forming our nation, his reenactor delivered a speech on “Self-made Men,” a composite of Douglass’ original oration and snippets of his eventful life.

Raised by his grandmother, “Douglass” told of beatings by his masters, and of how he learned to read and write secretly, taught by the wife of one of his masters.

Slaves were forbidden to learn, and reading was against the law for slaves back then.

Learning to read and write was his “direct pathway to freedom,” Douglass proclaimed.

Using an analogy of an eagle born in a chicken pen, Wallace, as Douglass, animatedly described how the eagle never aspired to soar through the sky like other eagles he saw, because he thought, and was told by the chickens he grew up with, that he was just a chicken.

Thus he never reached his potential.

Douglass’ grandmother told him that story to inspire him to strive high.

Unlike the misinformed eagle, Douglass was determined to reach his potential and did not allow slavery to crush his spirit.

He escaped bondage in 1838 by impersonating a sailor and heading north on a train.

He believed all people were born with the same rights and he dedicated his life to achieving liberty and equality for all women and men.

Education, Douglass declared, meant emancipation.

Just three years after escaping slavery, Douglass was hired as a lecturer by the American Anti-Slavery Society, and in 1845 he published his first autobiography, detailing his life as an American slave.

He said he wanted to expose slavery in order to kill it, much as exposing the roots of a tree leads to its demise.

The book led to appearances in England, Scotland and Ireland, and Douglass went on to publish two more autobiographies before his death in 1895.

Douglass had much to write about, including three meetings at the White House with President Abraham Lincoln, one of which Wallace memorably reenacted, including their sharing tea and discussing the presence of Negro soldiers in the Union Army.

In 1863, Douglass himself began recruiting Negroes for the Union Army.

Wallace’s performance expertly captured the spirit of Frederick Douglass, a self-made man who became what he aspired to be, a man who once proclaimed we all are “equals at the bar of God,” and “retain a divine spark.”

Douglass’ spark lit the way for countless folks, as he eloquently inspired and encouraged his listeners to “never settle for less than the best.”

Douglass believed in using one’s pen, voice and vote to promote emancipation of the human race.

As Wallace aptly demonstrated in his reenactment, Douglass practiced what he preached.