State Rep. Jennifer Wortz, who represents Hillsdale, with the Douglass statue on campus. Courtesy | Jonathan Meckel

Michigan’s Feb. 14 celebrations may soon extend beyond Valentine’s Day, as the state House of Representatives passed a resolution from Rep. Jennifer Wortz, a Republican who represents Hillsdale, to recognize it as Frederick Douglass Day.

“Douglass is one of the most principled political advocates and talented orators in American history,” Wortz said. “His enormous accomplishments, character, and ability more than warrant a day of commemoration, and I hope my resolution helps inspire my peers and me to also champion the cause of human liberty for which Douglass fought so hard.”

House Resolution 23, the first bill passed by Wortz, formalizes a tradition started by Wortz’s predecessor, former Rep. Andrew Fink, to recognize Douglass’s historical ties to Hillsdale County. Douglass visited Hillsdale College in 1863 and 1888, delivering speeches on the moral and political challenges of his time. The college commemorates these visits with a statue of Douglass beside Lane Hall.

Peter Jennings, associate professor of leadership studies, said Douglass visited Hillsdale on Jan. 21, 1863, during a 2,000-mile recruitment campaign following the Emancipation Proclamation, urging African American men to enlist in the Union Army.

“‘Men of Color to Arms! Now or Never!’ That was the topline of a broadside Douglass used to call on formerly enslaved men to ‘rise up in the dignity of our manhood, and show by our own right arms that we are worthy to be freemen,’” Jennings said. 

Wortz said she felt privileged to represent a district that hosted Douglass.

“It seemed appropriate for this office to continue recognizing him,” Wortz said.

Wortz explained why Feb. 14 — Valentine’s Day — was chosen to honor Douglass. 

“The resolution declares Feb. 14 the commemorative date for Douglass because that was the day he chose to remember as his birthday,” Wortz said in a press release. “Though he did not remember his exact birthdate, Douglass chose to celebrate it on Valentine’s Day because his mother, Harriet Bailey, referred to him as her ‘Little Valentine.’”

State Sen. Joe Bellino, a Republican who represents Monroe and part of Hillsdale County, said he would support a similar resolution in the Senate, especially given Michigan’s abolitionist history.

“I’m so lucky in my district to have a rich history of people fighting against slavery,” Bellino said. “To honor Frederick Douglass, who made a trip to Hillsdale and helped shape our history, is just wonderful.”

Bellino also stressed the importance of teaching history accurately. 

“If we don’t teach history as it happened, kids will never know why we got here today the way we did,” Bellino said. “It’s critical that we remember figures like Frederick Douglass.”

State Sen. Jonathan Lindsey, a Republican who represents Coldwater and part of Hillsdale County, praised Wortz’s resolution as well. 

“I commend Representative Wortz’s efforts on this important topic,” Lindsey said.

Beyond historical commemoration, Wortz drew parallels between Douglass’s fight against slavery and modern concerns about human trafficking. She said millions remain enslaved worldwide.

“If you think that slavery is dead in the United States, it’s not,” Wortz said. “It’s alive, and it’s an evil we need to work to prevent.”

She cited a police ride-along in which officers described a trafficking operation moving victims between Camden, Michigan and Fort Wayne, Indiana.

“This is happening here, and we need to act,” Wortz said. “Policies in our state have made it easier for traffickers to exploit minors, and we need to address that.”

Referencing Douglass’s 1863 Hillsdale speech, in which he argued that truth is unchanging, Wortz praised his legacy as an advocate for human rights and political truth.

“His words remind us that ‘there was no such thing as new truth. Error might be old or new, but truth was as old as the universe,’” Wortz said.

Wortz said she encourages Michigan residents to learn more about Douglass’s legacy and the fight for human liberty.

“History repeats itself,” Wortz said. “We have much to learn from figures like Frederick Douglass, and I hope this resolution sparks renewed appreciation for his life and work.”

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