Frederick Douglass
Definition
A prominent 19th-century American social reformer, abolitionist, orator, writer, and statesman who escaped from slavery and became a leader of the abolitionist movement.
A historical figure remembered for his intellectual prowess and political influence, whose personal life occasionally sparked public debate, such as his marriage to the younger, white activist Helen Pitts.
Examples
Frederick Douglass turned the 'I have a dream' concept into a tactical blueprint long before it was fashionable to have a dream.
In an era when most public figures were busy keeping their skeletons in the closet, Frederick Douglass proved that marrying outside the social norms of the 1880s was an excellent way to keep the dinner table conversation lively and the neighbors sufficiently scandalized.
If social media had existed during his lifetime, Frederick Douglass’s marriage to Helen Pitts would have certainly generated more hate-clicks and trending hashtags than any modern celebrity relationship drama.