From Fugitive Slave To Free Man

William Wells Brown spent the first twenty years of his life mainly in St. Louis and the surrounding areas working as a house servant, field hand, a tavern keeper's assistant, a printer's helper, an assistant in a medical office, and a handyman for James Walker, a Missouri slave trader. During his time with Walker, Brown made three trips up and down the Mississippi River. These trips allowed him to encounter slavery from every perspective and provided experiences he would draw on throughout his writing career.

Edited and with an Introduction by William L. Andrews. In a first person narrative that makes the unthinkable that was slavery not only credible but chillingly real.

Step into the harrowing world of William Wells Brown's "Narrative of William W. Brown, a Fugitive Slave". Follow the journey of one man's quest for freedom against the backdrop of a nation divided by slavery and injustice. As Brown's powerful narrative unfolds, immerse yourself in the struggles and triumphs of a man determined to break the chains of bondage and claim his rightful place as a free individual. But amidst the brutality and oppression lies a question that echoes through the pages: What does it truly mean to be free, and at what cost does one achieve liberation? Experience the raw emotion and unyielding spirit of Brown's story as he confronts the horrors of slavery and the relentless pursuit of freedom. Are you prepared to bear witness to the resilience and courage of those who fought for their freedom? Enter a world where every step towards liberation is fraught with danger and uncertainty, yet fueled by the unbreakable human spirit. Don't miss your chance to experience the powerful story of "Narrative of William W. Brown, a Fugitive Slave". Purchase your copy now and honor the legacy of those who fought for freedom against all odds. Indulge in the courage and determination of William Wells Brown as he shares his remarkable journey from bondage to liberation in this unforgettable narrative.

"Excellent...stunning."—Ta-Nehisi Coates The devastating story of how fugitive slaves drove the nation to Civil War A New York Times Notable Book Selection * Winner of the Mark Lynton History Prize* Winner of the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award * A New York Times Critics' Best Book For decades after its founding, America was really two nations--one slave, one free. There were many reasons why this composite nation ultimately broke apart, but the fact that enslaved black people repeatedly risked their lives to flee their masters in the South in search of freedom in the North proved that the "united" states was actually a lie. Fugitive slaves exposed the contradiction between the myth that slavery was a benign institution and the reality that a nation based on the principle of human equality was in fact a prison-house in which millions of Americans had no rights at all. By awakening northerners to the true nature of slavery, and by enraging southerners who demanded the return of their human "property," fugitive slaves forced the nation to confront the truth about itself. By 1850, with America on the verge of collapse, Congress reached what it hoped was a solution-- the notorious Compromise of 1850, which required that fugitive slaves be returned to their masters. Like so many political compromises before and since, it was a deal by which white Americans tried to advance their interests at the expense of black Americans. Yet the Fugitive Slave Act, intended to preserve the Union, in fact set the nation on the path to civil war. It divided not only the American nation, but also the hearts and minds of Americans who struggled with the timeless problem of when to submit to an unjust law and when to resist. The fugitive slave story illuminates what brought us to war with ourselves and the terrible legacies of slavery that are with us still.

Examines the impact fugitive slaves had on the Fugitive Slave Law and the coming of the American Civil War.

Narrative of the author's experiences as a slave in St. Louis and elsewhere.

"Twenty-Two Years a Slave, and Forty Years a Freeman" is a slave narrative, detailing Austin Steward's early life of enslavement and escape, as well as his years of freedom and work at Wilber force Colony. Austin Steward (1793 – 1869) was an African-American abolitionist and author. He was born a slave and escaped from Virginia at about age 21, settling in Rochester, New York, and then Canada. Contents: Slave Life on the Plantation At the Great House Horse-racing and Its Consequences Journey to Our New Home in New York Incidents at Sodus Bay Removal From Sodus to Bath Dueling Horse-racing and General Training Death Bed and Bridal Scenes Hired Out to a New Master Thoughts on Freedom Capt. Helm — Divorce — Kidnapping Locate in the Village of Rochester Incidents in Rochester and Vicinity Sad Reverses of Capt. Helm British Emancipation of Slavery Oration — Termination of Slavery Condition of Free Colored People Persecution of the Colored People Removal to Canada Roughing It in the Wilds of Canada Narrow Escape of a Smuggler Narrative of Two Fugitives From Virginia Pleasant Re-union of Old and Tried Friends Private Losses and Private Difficulties Incidents and Peculiarities of the Indians Our Difficulties With Israel Lewis Desperation of a Fugitive Slave A Narrow Escape From My Enemies Death of B. Paul, and Return of His Brother My Family Return to Rochester The Land Agent and the Squatter Character and Death of I. Lewis My Return to Rochester Bishop Brown — Death of My Daughter Celebration of the First of August Correspondence Letter From A. Steward to Wm. L. Garrison