Ellen Craft: Running a Thousand Miles For Freedom
Ellen Craft and her husband William became self-emancipated people in 1849 when
they made a bold escape from slavery in Macon, Georgia, and made their way
to Boston, Massachusetts. The couple’s innovative use of disguise, their
poise despite intense scrutiny, and their determination to gain their freedom
made them heroes to many and villains to others. Ellen’s transformation from
a light-skinned slave woman to a privileged white man was critical to the
successful escape. Ellen and William Craft survived dogged pursuits by slave-catchers,
found refuge in Boston’s African American Beacon Hill community, became ardent
abolitionists, joined vigilance committees, traveled abroad and raised awareness
about the plight of enslaved African Americans, and in 1860, published their
stunning memoir, William and Ellen Craft: Running A Thousand Miles to Freedom.
Event Details
Date: Friday, May 5
Time: 7:30 PM
Speaker: Marcia Estabrook (dramatic performance)
Place: Gamble Auditorium, Mount Holyoke College
Admission: Free and open to the public.
