Frederick-Douglass Knowles II
Hartford Poet Laureate Emeritus

Frederick-Douglass has been actively involved in HIV/AIDS awareness and education since his brother, Jamie Forest Knowles became infected with the virus over 30 years ago.  

 

He has worked directly with organizations such as the Connecticut AIDS Coalition, AIDS Connecticut (ACT) and Alliance For Living  to utilize his voice as a megaphone for a disquieted, disenfranchised population.

 

He has incorporated HIV/AIDS pedagogy into his college classrooms  challenging his students to critically analyze the sociopolitical impact of the virus. 

 

His works on HIV/AIDS are featured in the anthology Fingernails Across The Chalkboard: Poetry and Prose on HIV/AIDS From The Black Diaspora by Third World Press.