Josiah Henson was born a slave in Maryland and sold away from his family. Recognizing him as man of rare talents, his owner exploited him at every turn. As an adult Henson escaped to Canada with his wife and four children. There he founded a community for blacks who had fled slavery, naming the settlement “Dawn” to express the rising hopes of free men and women. Henson was a preacher and an abolitionist. He spoke boldly against slavery—not only in Canada but on return trips to the U.S. At great personal risk he ventured into the South repeatedly, bringing fugitive slaves all the way to Canada.
That would be enough for anyone, but Josiah Henson did more. He made two trips to England, where he raised money for the community of Dawn. Henson published his life story for the first time 1849 and revised it twice. His story inspired many readers with the courage, talent and resilience of African Americans. It also showcased Canada as a place more free and safe for black people than the United States.
In this new biography, author Juliet Haines Mofford offers the story of Josiah Henson to a new generation of readers. Her book rests on careful scholarship. But she has something that many scholars to not possess—the ability to write for a broad audience. The accessible writing style and the modest length makes this a good choice for high school and college classes. Students will learn a great deal about what it was like to be a slave and to escape from slavery and build a new life.
This book will also be read by individuals who care about race in North America. This sounds heavy, but the book is surprisingly easy to read. Dialog and vivid description make it feel like a novel. But, as every writer knows, the better a book reads the more labor it took...to make it look so easy. The author is to be commended for bringing forth this gem.
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I Shall Use My Freedom Well: Josiah Henson, Fugitive Slave (1789-1883)
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- Reviewed in the United States on November 8, 2017
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