From the archives

Back in high school Pointer and I were in most of the same classes, even in the same nerdy program that provided us with laptops and isolation from normal students. In one of these classes we read Frederick Douglass' autobiography. Pointer and I made the executive decision that Frederick Douglass was a babe and also awesome. We printed pictures of his face and pasted them on our laptops with big hearts around them. We were cool.

That year my family and I flew to NY the Thanksgiving (just after 9/11) to spend the holiday with my aunt. I brought my laptop, which had to be inspected because of new regulations. I pulled it out of my bag, and the inspector looked at this huge heart around Frederick Douglass basking in his heart-surrounded glory on the top.

Inspector: ...who's that?
Little Dodo: That's Frederick Douglass.
Inspector: Who is Frederick Douglass?
Little Dodo: !!!! Only one of the most important people who ever fought for the equal rights of all men and women in the 19th century!
Inspector: ....ok uh. Go on through.


Dodo's mom: What the hell was that??
Little Dodo: Oh, that guy didn't know who Frederick Douglass was.
Dodo's mom: ...you just got hassled.


Pretty sure that was the picture I used...still a babe