FreeGirl


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Charlotte Forten lived at time when most African Americans were slaves, but she was free. She lived in Massachusetts, and kept a journal in 1854, about 7 years before the Civil War.  She tells about her school, about being part of the anti-slavery movement, and the news about a runaway slave, Anthony Burns, who was on trial. (Burns was sent back into slavery.)
 * Background: **

Have been very busy all morning, sweeping, dusting, sewing, and doing other little things which are always to be done on Saturday. Spent a delightful hour in the afternoon at Miss Shepard's...returned home, read the Anti-Slavery newspaers, and then went down to the depot to meet father. He says that the excitement in Boston is very great; the trial of the poor man, Anthony Burns takes place on Monday. We scarcely dare to think of what may be the result.
 * ENTRY ONE **
 * //May 27, 1854//**

Our worst fears are realized; the decision was against poor Burns, and he has been sent back to a bondage worse, a thousand times worse than death. Even an attempt at rescue was utterly impossible; the prisoner was completely surrounded by soldiers with bayonets fixed, a canon loaded, ready to be fired at the slightest sign. With what scorn must that government be regarded which assembles thousands of soldiers to satisfy the demands of slaveholders; to deprive of his freedom a man, created in God's own image, whose sole offense is the color of his skin!
 * //June 2, 1854//**

A beautiful day. The sky is cloudless, the sun shines warm and bright, as I sit by the window writing. How strange it is that in a world so beautiful, there can be so much wickedness. On this delightful day, while many are enjoying themselves in their happy homes, Burns and millions besides are suffering in chains.
 * //June 4, 1854//**

This evening read "Poems of Phillis Wheatley," an African slave, who lived in Boston at the time of the Revolution. She was a wonderful gifted woman, and many of her poems are very beautiful. Her character and genius afford a striking proof of the falseness of the assertion made by some that hers is an inferior race.
 * ENTRY TWO **
 * //July 28, 1854//**

Returning home we stopped in Boston and passed some time very pleasantly in the Common listening to the music which enlivened the stillness of the sultry night. It was quite late when we reached home. And I returned to rest feeling that this had been one of the happiest days of my life, and thinking of the happy glorious day when every fetter shall be broken, and throughout this land there shall no longer be a single slave!
 * //August 1, 1854//**