by John Reid

On a hot, beautiful summer day, the citizens of Manassas were treated to a living historical dedication of the Manassas Industrial School this past Saturday.

Presented by the Manassas Museum, located at the Jennie Dean Memorial site off of Wellington Road, the dedication ceremony featured a welcome by Ms. Jennie Dean (played by Marion Dobbins). According to the official Manassas website, Dean, a former slave, spearheaded the fundraising for the Manassas Industrial School for Colored Youth in 1893. It was to provide academic and vocational training.

After the welcome, she introduced famed abolitionist, orator, writer and social reformer Frederick Douglass, who provided the keynote speech. Douglass (played by Nathan Richardson), who dedicated the school’s first building in September 1894, spoke of his journey from his days in Calvert County to becoming a voice of freedom by becoming self-educated.

“You cannot enslave a free mind,” he said to the crowd. “Once your mind is free, the body has to follow.”

He congratulated those who graduated from the school, and even had some of the youth come up and read his story. Afterwards, Douglass and Dean answered questions from the audience, and gave a tour of the school.

Manassas Mayor Michelle Davis-Younger spoke about how her father was born on that same land in 1934 and attended the Brown School. She mentioned how she would hear stories of the teachers and principals taking on multiple tasks to ensure the students got what they needed. Among her many accomplishments is getting a plaque honoring those students who were often cramped into two rooms.

Jennifer Roberts, founder of Conversations in the Community, spoke about the importance of being there.

“It was important for me to attend the commemoration of the dedication of the Manassas Industrial School,” she said. “I am grateful to the Manassas Museum for hosting this important community event and making it free to the public.  Today’s program was an authentic lesson in American History.”

“I owe a debt of gratitude to Ms. Dean, a formerly enslaved woman who used her life and the limited resources available to her to educate Black children.  Her vision, will and perseverance inspire me to carry on her incredible legacy.”

For more information on the Frederick Douglass Speaking Tour, visit their website.