If Only Henry Brown Had a Computer Game... I couldn't resist this curious bit of news. A friend recently sent me an article about a man who is shipping himself in a box from Bald Knob, Arkansas, to Portland, Oregon, beginning July 7. That's right: A seven-day...
Going Out on a Limb to Stop a Fast-Growing Crime: Modern Slavery Miller McKim would never forget the day that a Richmond shoemaker named Samuel Smith showed up at his Philadelphia office with a most improbable proposal. He wanted to ship a human being--a slave...
Free Blacks Lived on the Edge Between Slavery and Freedom When Henry Brown arrived in Richmond in 1830 at the age of 15, the city boasted a population of roughly 16,000--half of which were African-American. There were 6,345 slaves in Richmond, but there were...
The Clothing of Slaves Bloomed on Sundays Henry's face lit up when he spotted the mystery girl coming straight toward them, with a friend flanking her on either side--all of them carrying white parasols and all wearing flowered and feathered bonnets. The girl's bonnet...
Canton, Ohio, Embraces The Disappearing Man There's something about Ohio. Cincinnati, Ohio, is home of the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, where I first discovered the story of Henry "Box"Â Brown and his incredible escape from slavery. Now, Canton,...
Richmond Was Not Gone With the Wind I did a flurry of radio interviews a few weeks back just prior to my book signing at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. And one of the longest interviews was with Alan Jarand from the RFD Radio Network out of...
Music Links Henry Brown to 21st Century Abolitionists Henry couldn't help but notice her. He hadn't seen the girl before in the church choir, but there she was, rocking and swaying and stepping with the music….Henry stole another look down the row. The girl did...
Springfield's Paper Tells of Henry Brown, Upcoming Book Signing When you walk into the Plaza at the entrance of the Abraham Lincoln Museum, you will see a log cabin to your left, while straight ahead is a replica of the south portico of the White House--two very...
Replica box gives a taste of Henry's ordeal Standing next to the box, Samuel grinned and held out his hand, like a coachman motioning to the open door of a carriage. "Your coffin awaits." With the gimlet and water in hand, Henry stepped carefully into the box and...
Love was the ultimate risk among slaves Henry moved in closer to the window until he was standing only inches from her face. He couldn't kiss Nancy, not with a cabin full of slaves just behind her out of sight. It wouldn't seem proper...He was so close that he...