Why a Booktrail?
1849: The remarkable true story of a young slave in America who mailed himself to freedom in a box
Henry’s Freedom Box
What you need to know before your trail
Henry Brown is young but he has no idea of just how old he is as no one keeps records of slaves’ birthdays. He’s never had a birthday present but only really dreams of freedom anyway as this is the only thing he wants. When he is taken from his family and sent to work, he fears he will never see them again. When older and he has a family of his own, he is horrified to see them being sold at market like cattle.
It is then he realises that he will never get to celebrate freedom if he doesn’t try to get it for himself and for his family. So he mails himself in a parcel to the north hoping that this delivery will result in his first and best birthday present.
Travel Guide
An inspirational story based on fact – the real life Henry Box Brown really did mail himself in a box all the way North to escape the horrors of slavery
Henry’s story starts in Virginia where he is sent to work in a warehouse. Having been separated from his family and then as an adult, having his family sold at market, Henry suffered greatly throughout his life.
The slave owners may have all appeared harsh and brutal people but just like the watercolour illustrations in the book, there were many different shades of them. One in particular was ‘nice’ to Henry and let his family stay together.
His journey to freedom started in a crate and the journey to the North is as fascinating as it is dangerous . Many people helped him along the way -people of all races and colour and many helping as they thought it was the right thing to do.
Imagine the fear, the humiliation, the bravery and the chances of actually getting yourself inside a crate and hoping that you will become free? The pain of losing your family etched on your face (the page where Henry realises this is raw to see)
In the note at the end of the book, the author explains how Henry Brown was one of the most famous runaway slaves in American history but that he is just one of so many whose stories have not been told.
The Underground Railroad illustrated in colour and such stark detail really depicts the horrors of slavery and the bravery of those who helped to help those trapped by it.
Henry is now a motivational speaker and has written a book about his life as a slave.
For more information –
virginiamemory.com
And for trails – trailtofreedomva.com
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