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(L to R): Ken Morris, FDFF President and a direct descendant of Frederick Douglass and Booker T. Washington, Delegate and Chair of the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland Veronica Turner of Gorgeous Prince George's County, and FDFF Executive Vice President Robert Benz posed for a photo at Tuesday's HARAMBEE Dinner Club at Milton's Grill in Baltimore.

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(BALTIMORE - October 17, 2008) - Kenneth B. Morris, Jr., and his publicist, Robert Benz, were in town this week promoting the Frederick Douglass Family Foundation (FDFF), a 501C3 of which Morris is President, and its current tour across the country. They were special guests at this week's HARAMBEE Dinner Club, presented by BMORENEWS.com. 

The son of Nettie Washington in Atlanta, Morris is the great, great, great grandson of Frederick Douglass and the great, great grandson of Booker T. Washington.

The mission of the FDFF is to preserve and honor the legacy of Frederick Douglass and to raise awareness about the crisis of modern-day slavery and human trafficking.

According to Morris, "We know that slavery exists today in various forms throughout the world. It’s estimated that 27 million people live in a state of servitude. Right now there are women being forced into prostitution, children working in factories for little or no wage and men being sold or traded like cattle. We started the Frederick Douglass Family Foundation to help those people to live free."

"As direct descendants of Frederick Douglass, we believe we have an obligation to repeat his demand for the right of all men to be free from bondage. The state-sponsored slavery Frederick Douglass sought to abolish differs only slightly from today’s black market slavery in that one was done in the light of day and the other in shadows. Because it preys upon the weakest and most marginalized members of society, today’s brand of servitude is all the more shameful."

He added, "As direct descendants of Frederick Douglass, we believe we have an obligation to repeat his demand for the right of all men to be free from bondage. The state-sponsored slavery Frederick Douglass sought to abolish differs only slightly from today’s black market slavery in that one was done in the light of day and the other in shadows. Because it preys upon the weakest and most marginalized members of society, today’s brand of servitude is all the more shameful. In the fight against modern-day slavery, there is no group of people more qualified to speak out in protest than the descendants of former slaves, abolitionists and freedom fighters. The challenge for this group is to educate a wider audience about the injustices being perpetrated against a growing number of women, children and men both internationally and here at home in some of our most affluent neighborhoods. After recovering from the initial shock of learning that the practice of slavery still exists, most people are motivated to help. In an attempt to distribute the message of the existence of modern-day slavery, our organization will leverage the legacy of Frederick Douglass to gain access to media vehicles such as; network news, magazines, documentaries, film, television and celebrities. We will also address and enlist students, religious organizations and corporations in the fight to eradicate slavery. The assistance we receive in the form of funding will go toward the implementation and expansion of awareness programs. Further, we will honor the memory of Frederick Douglass by engaging in the struggle to finally make slavery a part of history."

FDFF UPDATES
Current Tour Information: The Frederick Douglass Dialogues Tour

30 Schools in 30 days - 30,000 Students – The FD Dialogues Tour is meant to help students understand the issue of modern-day slavery/human trafficking while discussing it in the context of institutionalized slavery. By demonstrating how the Abolitionists helped end slavery in this country, students learn about the tremendous power they have in affecting change by using the Internet and their social networks.

Attack on the Frederick Douglass Legacy
Frederick Douglass IV - This is a person living in the Baltimore area who has assumed the identity of the great great grandson of Frederick Douglass. He is, in fact, no relation to the great abolitionist. He has become somewhat of a celebrity through this identity theft. He makes public and private appearances for a fee and solicits donations on his website. He’s been to the White House on a few occasions in the guise of a descendant and sits on boards of directors of important organizations. He is even on the “Board of Trustees” for the Frederick Douglass Historical and Memorial Association – the organization charged with preserving the Frederick Douglass legacy and his Cedar Hill Home. The leaders of the organization are aware of his identity but refuse to remove him. His real name is Frederick I. Douglas. Here is an investigative article done by the Washington Post in August 2007: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/18/AR2007081801113.html

Also, here is more research done by FDFF: http://www.myprotectionquote.com/frederickdouglass/FDIVCensusReports.pdf

FMI, visit www.fdff.org