Introduction
There are many different texts describing the difficulties that black people faced in their attempts to escape slavery. One striking example is the story of William and Ellen Craft. While slaves on a Georgia plantation, they attempted to free themselves by escaping from their master. Although the Crafts were not the first slaves to commit such an act, their experience is unique. At the same time, this is not a story that glorifies rebellion and resistance as the main factors defining the struggle for freedom. Therefore, this paper analyzes Running a Thousand Miles for Freedom, emphasizing determination on the path to freedom.
Ellen Craft’s Origin and Skin Color
Starting to tell your story. The authors emphasize the harsh working conditions and difficult experiences they had to endure. One of the distinctive features in Ellen Craft’s biography is her origin. The text states that the woman’s father was a slave owner and his mother a slave, and Ellen’s “first master was her father” (Craft and Craft 431). However, such an attitude towards one’s own children was not unusual in those days. Donawerth and Scally note that children, like slaves, were often considered the property of their parents, had no rights, were often beaten, and were expected to do any kind of work (2). Ellen’s experience was further complicated by the fact that her mother was African American and a slave, making it virtually impossible for Craft to escape this status.
Furthermore, the color of Ellen’s skin helps to understand the Crafts experience better. On the one hand, it protected her from interaction with other slaves and the possibility of collaboration. She was too white, which caused the African American community to view her with some disdain, assuming that Ellen did not face the same degree of oppression as other slaves (Craft and Craft 431). Moreover, the woman’s African origin did not give her the opportunity to take any socially acceptable position for a woman of that period. She was not white enough for the slave owners, which made her an isolated figure in what was happening. On the other hand, it was the woman’s skin color that became the decisive factor in her and her husband’s escape.
Crafts’ Liberation Strategy
Crafts chose a rather bold strategy for their liberation, trying to use all available resources. William Craft noted that with sufficiently fair skin, his wife could “disguise herself as an invalid gentleman” while the man himself acted as her slave (Craft and Craft 432). Moreover, the couple even took into account the social characteristics of the South. In which it was not customary for white women to travel alone, accompanied by a male slave. This ingenious plan allowed them to travel openly, moving through cities and towns and even crossing borders without arousing suspicion.
Although the plan was quite successful, the Crafts story details the challenges they faced. The main problem for the couple was the constant fear of exposure and the need to maintain a reserved appearance in the presence of potential threats. While traveling on vessels, they constantly feared that Ellen’s identity would be revealed, and they would be sent back to slavery (Craft and Craft 435). Therefore, they often had to choose less convenient and faster methods of transportation, as well as travel to areas where the likelihood of detection was less.
Acquaintances: Supporters and Haters
Another significant aspect of this journey was the people Crafts met. Some of them turned out to be allies who offered help and support (Craft and Craft 444). However, more common were the instances where William and Ellen faced racism and discrimination. Therefore, Crafts was faced with the challenge of not only physically navigating dangerous terrain but also dealing with the emotional strain of their circumstances.
The authors describe the advice that Ellen, in the guise of a gentleman, received regarding how to treat slaves. Even the smallest acts of humanity towards blacks, such as words of gratitude, were believed to have a negative impact on their work (Craft and Craft 434). This is supported by Donawerth and Scally, who claim that slaves were treated like livestock by marking and whipping them (5). Having similar standards for blacks made the path to freedom much more difficult for the Crafts.
Barriers and Adversaries
Moreover, the authorities and slave owners took all sorts of actions to make escapes impossible. Restricted access to education, the inability to interact with other slaves to prevent collaboration, and the Fugitive Slave Law made the journey even more dangerous (Donawerth and Scally 8). Even when they arrived in the free state of Philadelphia, Crafts noted that they could not feel completely safe (Craft and Craft 443). Therefore, this story serves as a testament to courage and determination. Moreover, their experience reflects “not rebellion but survival,” demonstrating the heroism of slaves on the path to liberation (Donawerth and Scally 4). This desire for freedom demonstrates that slavery for the African American population of the 19th century was virtually equivalent to death, which is why they were willing to take risks for the sake of freedom.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the story of William and Ellen Craft conveys the unique experiences that the authors had to endure on the path to freedom. It demonstrates the fortitude and survival skills that have become necessary to remain relatively safe. Moreover, the story describes the challenges and threats that Crafts has personally experienced. Despite this, they managed to achieve their goal thanks to their personal qualities and ability to adapt to circumstances.
Works Cited
Craft, William and Ellen Craft. “Running a Thousand Miles for Freedom.” The Norton Anthology of African American Literature, edited by Henry Louis Gates and Valerie A. Smith. 3rd ed. Vol. 1. W.W. Norton & Co, 2014, pp. 429-444.
Donawerth, Jane, and Kate Scally. “You’ve found no records.” Extrapolation, vol. 58, no. 1, 2017, 1-14. Web.