Professor Christine Kinealy
By Irish Echo Staff
The "Great Famine Voices Roadshow" is returning this weekend with what producers describe as "a brand new series of standalone short films and online discussions beginning with Black Abolitionists in Ireland and continuing with caregivers during Ireland’s darkest years."
The first program, airing this Sunday, May 2, features a short film (18 minutes) and online discussion and focuses on the story of Sarah Remond’s visit to Ireland in 1859 to win support for anti-slavery, even as her own country was hurtling towards a bloody civil war.
"Remond followed her brother, fellow abolitionist Charles Lenox Remond, who lectured in Ireland on the eve of the Great Famine. A life-long friend of Frederick Douglass, Sarah made her own unique contribution to abolition on both sides of the Atlantic," said a release.
All interested are invited for a live post-show discussion on Zoom with Emmy-award winning Professor Christine Kinealy (Ireland’s Great Hunger Institute, Quinnipiac University) and Dennis Brownlee (Founder and President of the African American Irish Diaspora Network).
"We are delighted be collaborating again with Professor Kinealy from Ireland’s Great Hunger Institute at Quinnipiac University and guests Dennis Brownlee and Leni Sloan on our first two films about heroic African Americans who followed in the footsteps of Frederick Douglass to famine and poverty stricken Ireland,” said Dr Jason King of the National Famine Museum, Strokestown Park and the Irish Heritage Trust.
“These films explore the strong links that developed between African Americans and Ireland in the mid-nineteenth century, and will resonate with new communities in Ireland today."
The program is set for Sunday at 2 p.m. Eastern, 7 p.m. in Ireland. Film and Zoom details at http://greatfaminevoices.ie/famine-heroes/
