Stephen A Douglas Tomb and Memorial

After I learned the hard way that the South Side Community Art Center and the Bronzeville Visitor Information Center were BOTH closed on a frosty January Sunday, my botched attempt to observe the spirit of Martin Luther King Day by learning about African-​American history culminated with a misguided visit to Douglas Tomb. From a few blocks away I looked up in awe at the 9′ bronze statue atop a towering 46′ monument. It wasn’t until I entered the park gate that I realized my latest mistake: not only did this guy spell his last name with one ‘s’, but he was also white.
I.e., not Frederick Douglass. [smacks self on forehead]
The man who holds a high perch on the eastern fringe of the Bronzeville neighborhood goes by the name Stephen A. Douglas. Douglas was a prominent white local landowner in the area long before Bronzeville became known as the mecca of African-​American history. A lifelong politician, he played a significant role in establishing America’s western territories and railroads before losing the presidential election to Abe Lincoln in 1860. Douglas’ belief in popular sovereignty, i.e. the notion that new territories should be allowed to individually decide on slavery by popular vote, ultimately led to his political downfall.
Here at the monument, one can stand over the sarcophagus containing Douglas’ dead body and carry on the longstanding scholarly debate about whether Douglas was *personally* opposed to slavery; some argue his name and monument should be removed, while others are dedicated to preserving his legacy. Even on Unilocal,if you search for either the community area Douglas or the neighborhood Bronzeville, you’ll see the two names superimposed on top of each other.
We all know that nice guys don’t get statuized, though, and with Douglas’ gaze fixed at more than 50′ above ground it’s impossible to look him in the eye to properly judge the nuances of his character. Only one fact was and remains as true as this monument is high: the guy was prominent.