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Slavery and the Making of America
Time and Place Slave Memories Resources The Slave Experience

The Slave Experience: Responses to Enslavement
Intro Historical Overview Character Spotlight Slave Decisions Personal Narratives Original Docs
The Decisions Slaves Madereturn to introduction
Link to Cynthia Link to Slave Ship Robert Link to Josiah Henson Link to John Mason Link to William Grimes Link to Charles Ball
Josiah Henson

Josiah Henson's father and mother both worked in the fields on a Maryland farm. Josiah's father was the slave of the property owner. His mother belonged to another master, who had hired her out. One day, Josiah's mother was viciously assaulted by a white overseer. Josiah's father was enraged
Do you think he:

a. Attacked the overseer in retribution?

b. Decided to escape with his wife?

c. Stayed silent and went about his work as usual?

Outcome
Illustration of white man grabbing a slave - Library of Congress

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