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The Amazing Henry Box Brown: From Fugitive Slave to Ingenious Entertainer
Feb 3, 2025
Martha Cutter, a professor at the University of Connecticut, dives into the incredible story of Henry Box Brown, an enslaved man who ingeniously mailed himself to freedom in the 1840s. Alongside Yale's Daphne Brooks and William R. Keenan, Jr., they explore Brown's transformation from a fugitive to a celebrated performer who used his escape box in subversive magic acts. The discussion highlights his legacy within the abolitionist movement, the complexities of identity after escape, and the lingering impacts of slavery on today's society.
54:08
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Quick takeaways
- Henry Box Brown's ingenious escape plan, where he mailed himself to freedom, exemplifies the extraordinary lengths individuals would take to attain liberty.
- After gaining freedom, Brown transformed his traumatic experience into powerful performances that raised awareness about slavery while challenging racial stereotypes.
Deep dives
The Extraordinary Life of Henry Box Brown
Henry Box Brown, born into slavery in Virginia, devised a creative escape plan that involved mailing himself to freedom in a box. As a young man, he experienced the harsh realities of being enslaved and lost his family members to the slave trade. This traumatic background compelled him to seek an extraordinary solution, where he literally 'stole' himself back from his enslavement by disguising himself as a package. His remarkable story illustrates the lengths to which individuals would go to attain liberty, transforming a personal nightmare into a tale of resilience and ingenuity.
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