The play chronicling the life of Frederick Douglass was an amazing event held April 8 in the Bakersfield College new indoor theater.

Phil Darius Wallace played Douglass in “Self-Made Man: The Frederick Douglass Story” and all of the other characters in the play. He showed his amazing acting skills as he entertained us and educated us about Douglas, who was an African-American social reformer in the 1800s.

To watch this beautiful performance by Wallace was definitely a treat.

I really enjoyed the way he transformed from one character to the next, and I would like to see his one-man shows on Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X.

Wallace has been doing these types of plays for elementary, middle, and high schools across the country. He is such a great performer that a lot of people will learn from him.

The play covered Douglass’ life from childhood to adult. Douglass was born a slave with the slave master being his dad. The wife of the slave master taught Douglass how to read even though it was against the law for any blacks to learn how to read, and the punishment was death.

Douglass was raised by his grandmother, who took the time to teach him about the evils of the world. Douglass eventually escaped slavery and became a leader in the abolitionist movement.

The play was preceded by a fabulous dinner from the BC culinary arts class with chef Alex Gomez. That was followed by a fantastic performance by the Bakersfield college choir and chambers singers. The choir was amazing and set the tone for a great night out.