Appearing in 1855, My Bondage and My Freedom is the second autoobiography written by Frederick Douglass (1818-1895), a man who was born into slavery in Maryland and who went on to become the most famous antislavery autHor, orator, philosopher, essayist, historian, intellectual, statesman and freedom-fighter in US history. An instant bestseller, Douglass's autobiography tells the story of his early life as lived in 'bondage' and of his later life as...

The story of Solomon Northup is a bizarre and incredible one. Born a free black in New York State in 1808, he was kidnapped in Washington, D.C., in 1841, and spent most of the next 12 years as a slave on a Louisiana cotton plantation. His years in this condition of servitude were filled with abuse, apprehension, and a profound fear for his life (he narrowly escaped lynching). Northup's years in captivity are dramatically recounted here, as are his...

"Two half sisters, Effia and Esi, unknown to each other, are born into two different tribal villages in 18th century Ghana. Effia will be married off to an English colonial, and will live in comfort in the sprawling, palatial rooms of Cape Coast Castle, raising half-caste children who will be sent abroad to be educated in England before returning to the Gold Coast to serve as administrators of the Empire. Her sister, Esi, will be imprisoned beneath...

A young slave stitches a quilt with a map pattern which guides her to freedom in the North.

Stowe's powerful abolitionist novel fueled the fire of the human rights debate in 1852. Denouncing the institution of slavery in dramatic terms, the incendiary novel quickly draws the reader into the world of slaves and their masters. Stowe's characters are powerfully and humanly realized in Uncle Tom, a majestic and heroic slave whose faith and dignity are never corrupted; Eliza and her husband, George, who elude slave catchers and eventually flee...

Bringing to light the heartbreaking experiences of the Wenberg sisters - Adelaide, Valerie (Linow) and Rita, SERVENT OR SLAVES celebrates their fortitude in pursuing justice for the crimes committed against them. Their firsthand accounts of officially sanctioned enslavement reveal the true intent of the government policy of 'protection' prevalent throughout the twentieth century. Theirs is a David and Goliath battle, waged not only for personal healing,...

In a landmark work of deep scholarship and insight, Foner gives us a life of Lincoln as it intertwined with slavery, the defining issue of the time and the tragic hallmark of American history. The author demonstrates how Lincoln navigated a dynamic political landscape deftly, moving in measured steps, often on a path forged by abolitionists and radicals in his party, and that Lincoln's greatness lay in his capacity for moral and political growth....

A historical narrative that chronicles the history of slavery in the United States from the development of slavery in the English colonies through the Civil War.

MY BOLIVIA tells what happens when a Latino filmmaker from the United States tries to unravel the myths and realities of his family history in Bolivia; the country where his father was born. Rick Tejada-Flores grew up in California, but never connected with his father’s world till he was in his 50s. When he did he found a history of slavery… his grandfather’s role as President during the bloodiest war in Latin American history…the never-mentioned...