Monday, November 21, 2011

The Escape of Oney Judge


The Escape of Oney Judge (pronounced "Ona") provides students with an exciting story about one of Martha Washington's slaves who escapes to Portsmouth, NH. It is an excellent accompaniment to the Washington Slave List or an alternative picture book to Chains.

The picture book opens up all sorts of discussion topics and questions for students.
  • Why wouldn't Martha Washington free her slaves?
  • How could a Founding Father have slaves?
  • What were the fugitive slave laws during the time?
  • How did the North respond to fugitive slaves at the time?
Oney's story is well-told on Wikipedia!

And here is a primary source to connect with the book:


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