like his father, lewis henry douglass was a "valuable citizen" to washington d.c. through his involvement with the "new national era" and other political impact. he helped establish and was the senior editor of the "new national era ("1870-1874) with his father, a "well conducted" newspaper aimed at addressing the issues of the black community in d.c. he had a political impact when appointed to the legislative council of the district of columbia by ulysses s. grant where he pushed for racial equality by creating a bill like one that required restaurants to post their prices so they could not overcharge blacks.