In a time when our nation wrestled with division, two extraordinary leaders chose conversation over conflict. The acclaimed play Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass: A Walk to Respect , written by award-winning playwright Beth Duda with original spoken word poetry by Cedric Hameed, brings to life the historic relationship between Frederick Douglass, the fiery abolitionist and former slave, and President Abraham Lincoln, the cautious statesman determined to preserve the Union. Through their own words, the play explores how two men with different perspectives found common ground during one of the most divided times in American history. Performed across the country, the production has been presented at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., and the Sandra Day O’Connor Institute for American Democracy. This 90-minute experience includes the staged reading followed by a panel discussion with the actors and playwright.