6.22.10 Jenny Davis – Journal Entry 1

After reading the title “Running a Thousand Miles From Freedom” I expect the retelling of two slaves escape from freedom. This seems to be the story of a husband and his wife’s escape. I see the two running into many hardships and to of course find help along the way through the abolitionists of the south working on the “underground railroad”. I also expect the two slaves to possibly go through Indiana since the state was a big part of the abolitionist movement, and ending up somewhere near New York a free state in the North.

From the preface I learn that my previous assumptions were correct and this is indeed the recount of two slaves escape for freedom. It does sound as though the story will be told from the husband’s perspective. The story will be a reflection on William and Ellen Craft’s feelings of injustice towards their enslavement and I anticipate conversations between the two and other slaves on their plantation about these issues. I expect that the story will show how much the slaves helped one another escape and how much compassion was still in all of their hearts even after being treated so horribly.

Once I began to read the text I see that one main reason for writing it was to show that though there was so little hope so many of these people called slaves were still able to make it through and escape to freedom. While at the same time so many died before they ever could. Slavery is truly a sad story that pulls at my heartstrings every time I read about it. In the preface William Craft states, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal…” (craft p.iii) This alone shows the hope and determination in his heart. These people all knew what was happening to them was wrong. They were definitely broken down by the enslavement, but they always knew that they were not deserving of it. Which is amazing to me. If I, and my ancestors had been enslaved for hundreds of years I would be convinced that it was a way of life and that is what our race was meant for. But I thank the good Lord above that he placed freedom in all these peoples’ hearts.

The most surprising thing in this story was the telling of the white children who would be stolen from their families, “tanned” or even “had their skin dyed” (p7) to look black and forced into slavery. I never knew that this happened and presents a whole new outlook on how awful slavery truly was. It was bad enough that blacks were persecuted while white children were not safe either and also had to fight for their freedom. Reading that white parents were even known to sell their children into slavery shows me that this was a time of great sin driven by greed. (p7) This makes me think more about greed and the terrible things it can do to people. Where as the enslaved peoples were never greedy, although often called so, all they wanted was what was rightfully theirs, their freedom.

Families ripped apart through sale by their masters. “Christian” (p10) men were dong these awful things. But I am not the judge, many of these masters may have gone to heaven, we all sin, I cannot pretend that I have the power to condemn someone to hell because their sin was so much greater in my mind than my own. It is amazing to me that the slave people did not lose their hope in God when those keeping them bound were said to be strong believers. In my opinion only by the grace of God was slavery abolished. If not by God’s grace, what else could have put such a strong hope in the hearts of these slaves and those helping them escape. Why would so many free whites have risked their lives in order to free these people whom so many thought of as dirt? Again I say only by the Grace of God.

I believe this text was written as a beacon of hope for other slaves, black and white alike. Knowing that this was written and that anyone could read it, and have such a vivid retelling of the story of the lives that so many slaves lived would be a comfort I should think. As I have stated before so many slaves helped one another to freedom but were never freed themselves’; I believe that this was written for those selfless people, to show them that their efforts were well worth it. Also to the free whites and blacks risking their lives to help escaped slaves. Mr. Craft’s story would be a drop of joy added to their lives and a reassurance that again their efforts were well worth it all. I also believe that this was written as a strong prayer and thank you to God for all that he did in the lives of these people. Mr. Craft was obviously a man of great faith as many of the slaves were, and I am assured that faith is what got him through and saved his life. Although coming to this subject I am saddened that so many slaves were never freed and died in bondage, as well as the terrible things that heppened to each of their ancestors. But, again I say it is a miracle that these people were able to keep their faith and conquer the devil that was slavery.