1. William Craft
2. Ellen Craft
William and Ellen Craft escaped their master’s plantation and made a run for freedom, and the two did it in plain sight. Ellen, was the daughter of a white plantation owner. William was also a half-white slave who was often mistaken for being a white family member of his master. Ellen cut her hair and traveled as a man, and William traveled as her slave. Since Ellen could not read or write she put her harm in a sling to use as an excuse for not being able to sign her name. Their travel was not easy; the two never revealed their identity until they were far up north. Even after reaching north they had to move to England because they were being pursued by slave hunters.
3. Blind Tom Wiggins Used His Musical Talent for Freedom
Blind Tom Wiggins was born on a Georgia plantation, his owner thought of him as being useless and not worth having around. His masters quickly sold him and his family. His new family soon found out that Tom had musical talent, and they thought of him as a gold mine. The family began sending him on tours throughout the North and South. The money made off Tom’s performances went to the Confederate army to help the injured. It’s believed that Tom taught himself over 7000 pieces of music, from classical to popular songs, from hymns to whatever got people dancing. One thing about Tom is that his musical talent kept him off the plantation and from being beat.
Comments