By looking at the lives of African Americans who have found inspiration in the classics we can all learn about the enduring value of these texts. The same fire that burned in the souls of our classically educated Founding Fathers was also ignited in the soul of Frederick Douglass and many others who strived to make America live up to its promises. Why do these texts awaken that fire in so many of us? This event will seek to unveil reasons why classic texts have for centuries been relevant to all of humanity and have been at the root of our progress.