Frederick Douglass (1818-1895) escaped slavery in Maryland. His lifelong commitment to women’s rights reflected a belief that rights should be universal, not limited by race or gender. He believed that disenfranchised groups should support each other. Douglass played a critical role in the 1848 Seneca Falls Women’s Rights Convention. He supported the early woman’s suffrage efforts of Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony and Lucy Stone.

http://www.sec.state.ma.us/mus/pdfs/6-Douglass.pdf

Photo: Art Institute of Chicago