The Plantations Are Burning: Ellen Craft and the Power of Self-EmancipationWhat would you do to escape your circumstances?
In one of the boldest escapes in American history, Ellen disguised herself as a wealthy white man, with her husband posing as her enslaved servant, and together they fled over 1,000 miles to freedom. Their story is not only a testament to ingenuity and bravery, but the sheer willpower it took to take one’s freedom back. The pure sight of seeing the Nottoway “Resort” (i.e. the former slave plantation in Louisiana) burning to the ground reminded me of Ellen Craft, so I’ll share her story with you today. Ellen Craft was born into slavery in 1826, the daughter of an enslaved woman and her white enslaver. Her mixed-race appearance meant she had light skin, which her enslaver’s wife resented. At just 11 years old, Ellen was given away as a wedding gift to her enslaver’s daughter, separating her from her mother. This traumatic separation was just one of many injustices she endured, but Ellen would later use her appearance to orchestrate one of the most extraordinary escapes in American history. In 1848, Ellen and her husband William hatched a plan that could easily have gotten them killed. Ellen would pose as a wealthy, disabled white man, and William would act as her enslaved valet. Ellen knew that white men—especially wealthy ones—were rarely questioned, so she wrapped her arm in a sling to avoid having to write and hid her face under bandages to conceal her features. She even wore men’s clothing, including pants and a top hat. The two set off on a perilous journey, traveling by train and steamboat through the heart of the South. There were countless moments of danger: Ellen came face-to-face with a white man who knew her enslaver, and she was almost exposed when a train conductor asked for identification. But her disguise, paired with their courage, carried them through. The Crafts finally reached Philadelphia, then Boston, where abolitionists helped protect them. But their safety was short-lived. The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 meant that they were no longer safe in the North—slave catchers could legally capture them and return them to slavery. Ellen and William were forced to flee once more, this time to England. There, they not only found refuge, but they also became prominent abolitionists, giving lectures on their harrowing escape and the horrors of slavery. Ellen’s story captivated audiences, and she used her platform to fight for freedom, equality, and justice. In 1868, after the Civil War ended, the Crafts returned to the United States, settling in Georgia, where they devoted the rest of their lives to improving the lives of freed people. They founded the Woodville Co-operative Farm School to educate formerly enslaved Black men and women, offering them the skills and knowledge to thrive in a free society. Ellen’s transition from a fugitive to a revered activist and educator is a testament to her resilience and the remarkable life she carved out after escaping slavery. If this resonated with you, I invite you to explore how historic Black women continue to shape our world in my new digital workbook — available now for pre-order. It’s full of stories, insights, and lessons from black women we weren’t taught in school. → Pre-order the digital workbook here Shae the Historian is a free newsletter created to make historical knowledge as accessible as possible. Therefore, I do not have paid subscriptions turned on. To support this publication and my work, consider buying me a coffee using the link below. Otherwise, sharing this with someone costs nothing! Because Black women’s stories — past and present — should never be footnotes. with care,
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subota, 17. svibnja 2025.
The Plantations Are Burning: Ellen Craft and the Power of Self-Emancipation
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